The NHL trade deadline looms at 3 p.m. Wednesday, with Jake Guentzel still under contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. While there’s a slim chance the Penguins might consider re-signing Guentzel, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and will likely demand a substantial raise from his current $6 million salary-cap hit, it’s more probable that Kyle Dubas, the team’s president of hockey operations/GM, hasn’t yet received a satisfactory trade offer for him. The delay isn’t likely due to Guentzel’s contract clauses allowing him to veto trades to certain teams, but such clauses do complicate efforts to trade a player, as they grant him the power to reject potential trades.
General managers prefer full flexibility in roster restructuring and would probably prefer no-trade or no-movement clauses not to exist, a sentiment shared by fans who relish high-profile personnel exchanges, particularly around Deadline Day. However, players receive these clauses in exchange for concessions such as accepting lower salaries, which helps teams manage salary-cap space, a crucial asset in today’s NHL. Even though GMs may regret offering these clauses later, they are generally willing to do so.
The cap space freed up by trading Guentzel could prove invaluable for the Penguins, potentially aiding in summer trades and free-agent signings to bolster their Stanley Cup contention or secure a playoff spot. Moreover, shedding salary could provide immediate benefits. Dubas could leverage this cap space to facilitate trades between other teams, agreeing to retain a percentage of a player’s salary in exchange for draft picks, helping replenish the Penguins’ prospect pool.
While the payoff from any draft picks received may take time to materialize, it’s a calculated risk worth taking, especially if it only requires financial investment. Depending on their involvement in facilitating trades, the Penguins could potentially receive picks as high as a third-rounder, akin to the one used to draft Jake Guentzel in 2013.