NHLTR Mock Trade: Penguins trade Jake Guentzel to the Vegas Golden Knights

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in advanced trade talks with several teams at the moment as Kyle Dubas looks to make some roster adjustments before March 8. Things haven't gone to plan in his first season in Pittsburgh and while the Pens have five games in hand on the Tampa Bay Lightning, who they are chasing for the last wildcard spot, expectation is Dubas makes some bold moves before the deadline.

Insert Jake Guentzel. The Penguins sniper is the best forward available on the trade market as contract talks have gotten nowhere between the two sides. Look for Guentzel to be dealt ahead of the deadline, and for the package to be significant heading back to Pittsburgh.

NHLTR Mock Trade: Penguins deal Guentzel to the Vegas Golden Knights for Brendan Brisson, Daniil Miromanov, Mathieu Cataford and a 2024 first-round pick

Dubas is looking for a four-piece combo for Guentzel and is looking to get the Penguins roster younger. Meanwhile Vegas has just enough cap space to take on Guentzel and his $6 million thanks to Mark Stone heading to LTIR until then playoffs. Nikita Kucherov 2.0.

Brisson and Miromanov can step into the lineup immediately and help the team win. Brisson is 22 years old, a former first-round pick from 2020, and so far in 10 games in Vegas has recorded four points. He's shown at the AHL level he can put up points in bunches.

Miromanov is a towering presence on the blueline. The Russian d-man was undrafted and while he hasn't produced much offensively in his short time with the Golden Knights, Miromanov has put up serious numbers in the AHL and could be a perfectly suited to learn his kraft from the likes of Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang.

Cataford on the other hand is one of the Vegas' best prospects. He was a third-round pick in 2023 and has been running show in junior this season, putting up 37 goals and 80 points in 56 games.

Guentzel is a winner, he's a multiple 40-goal scorer and he's having another terrific season with 52 points in 50 games. Dubas has the tall task of trying to set the Penguins up for the future, while also remaining competitive enough to keep Malkin and Crosby happy. Moving Guentzel is gonna sting.