Insider Reports Possible Surprising Turn of Events in Jake Guentzel Drama

For a couple of weeks now, most observers around the National Hockey League have been hearing that the Carolina Hurricanes were making impending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel available for a mid-round draft pick so that they could recoup an asset before losing him to free agency.

However, in a potential turn of events, per hockey insider Pierre LeBrun, the Canes apparently haven't completely written off a Guentzel return just yet.

Carolina hasn’t given up on trying to sign Jake Guentzel. Talks ongoing.
My sense is it’s going to be hard for him not to see what’s out there Monday, but ‘Canes still trying.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 25, 2024

"Carolina hasn’t given up on trying to sign Jake Guentzel. Talks ongoing.
My sense is it’s going to be hard for him not to see what’s out there Monday, but ‘Canes still trying," writes LeBrun.

The Hurricanes made a big splash at the trade deadline, acquiring the high-scoring forward from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a number of key assets, including Michael Bunting, forward prospects Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen, the rights to forward Cruz Lucius, and what turns out to be a second-round draft pick. It's understandable that they're not going to surrender Guentzel without a fight.

He was better than advertised in his time in Carolina, registering 25 points in 17 games with a +16 rating. He then added another nine points in 11 playoff games.

A number of teams are noted to be serious suitors for Guentzel, including the Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers, and Florida Panthers, according to insider Frank Seravalli.