Jake Guentzel's Relationship With Penguins Deteriorating, Making Trade With Oilers Suddenly More Likely

The Edmonton Oilers have consistently been involved in trade rumors this season. While many of them have involved goaltenders, the team has also been reportedly after Penguins forward Jake Guentzel. Now a trade between the two teams may be more likely as more information about the situation is leaked to the media.

Guentzel At Odds With Penguins Regarding Future With Team

Guentzel, 29, is at the end of his contract with the Penguins. As a result, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Most teams in the Penguins situation would not hesitate to trade a player like him at the trade deadline given where they are in the standings. However, the team remains steadfast in their pursuit of another playoff run with Crosby and Malkin and as such, they remain reluctant to trade Guentzel. This has reportedly created a rift between the team and Guentzel, according to David Pagnotta.




The situation between Guentzel and the Penguins has been a bit odd for awhile now but tensions have certainly been growing in recent days. Just today, Athletic writer Rob Rossi added fuel to the fire with a piece about the situation in which he seemed to imply that Guentzel did not want to commit to the Penguins long-term.

Penguins To Trade Guentzel After All?

While Kyle Dubas and the Penguins have remained adamant that they are pushing for a playoff birth, it is pretty clear that the team does not have it in them anymore. They have consistently been towards the bottom of their division all season and the offseason addition of Erik Karlsson has not seemed to push the team across the finish line. These recent developments regarding Guentzel will likely lead many to believe that the team will cave and trade him at the deadline. Otherwise, they will most likely be losing him for nothing as he will sign elsewhere in free agency. One team that has reportedly been in on Guentzel is the Edmonton Oilers.


The Oilers have two options at the trade deadline. The first is to improve in goal. The second is to double down on offense, and continue to outscore their problems. This has been the team's strategy for several years so it would come as no surprise to see them once again take this approach. The only question is, how much would it cost the Oilers to acquire Guentzel?

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