Penguins' Jake Guentzel Tops NHL Trade Market

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PITTSBURGH – Jake Guentzel has become one of the biggest names floating around the NHL trade market, but it still isn’t certain the Pittsburgh Penguins will be dealing their elite forward. No contract talks have been reported, and Guentzel has been focused on hockey, but that hasn’t stopped teams from waiting for the Penguins to decide.

While teams across the NHL wait for a decision on Guentzel, they might also put their game plans on hold. According to a new report from Elliotte Friedman on Saturday Headlines, Guentzel is one of the players delaying the market.

“There are four names at the top of the pack that teams kind of are waiting on,” Friedman said. “Jake Guentzel. … the two Calgary defenseman [Noah] Hanifin and [Chris] Tanev… and also Adam Henrique of the Ducks.”

Friedman went on to note that the Penguins are perfectly fine with waiting things out up until the final hours of the deadline.

“In Guentzel’s case, I think Pittsburgh is prepared to see how the next month plays out,” Friedman said. “And I do think there are some teams who are going to wait and see where these four players in particular go.”

Kyle Dubas has said before he’s willing to wait things out and see where they go, but it would be up to the team’s success or failures that would determine a direction. The Penguins entered the break as one of the hottest teams in the NHL but have stumbled since returning to game action.

The Penguins have gone 1-2-0 in the first week out of the All-Star break yet are still within striking distance of a playoff spot. Guentzel would be a key fixture for any team looking to go on a run, and that includes the Penguins.

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