Offer on the table for Jake Guentzel!
Latest update on the pending free agent:
While the Carolina Hurricanes had considered shopping the rights to winger Jake Guentzel, who’s been tempted to test free agency on Monday, it now sounds like he may be staying put in Raleigh after all.
According to Elliotte Friedman, who spoke on the Pat McAfee show on Friday ahead of the NHL Draft, the contract offer that Guentzel is seeking could be hammered out in Carolina.
”The belief is that Jake Guentzel had an ask for Carolina which I believe is 8x8.. I think the Hurricanes have indicated that they will do that contract and now we’re waiting to see if it gets hammered out”
~ Elliotte Friedman
If Guentzel were to hit free agency because of the Hurricanes failing to reacg an agreement, that would be a terrible move from Carolina seeing that they would lose the winger for another after acquiring him in a major trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins at the March deadline.
It had been reported that one very interested contender was the Vancouver Canucks, who have had Guentzel in their crosshairs as a trade target for a while now and even came close to flipping forward Elias Lindholm to the Boston Bruins to make room for the winger in early March.
It has been projected that Guentzel could get a massive long-term deal at $8 million annually as a free agent. It looks like Carolina may be willing to give it to him after all.
In 74 games last season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Canes, Guentzel has scored 34 goals and 44 assists for a total of 78 points.