There are "talks ongoing" between Carolina Hurricanes and winger Jake Guentzel before the Monday opening of NHL free agency, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.
Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrunCarolina hasn't given up on trying to sign Jake Guentzel. Talks ongoing. <br>My sense is it's going to be hard for him not to see what's out there Monday, but 'Canes still trying.
Guentzel slotted in on the Hurricanes' top line beside Sebastian Aho after his midseason trade acquisition from the Pittsburgh Penguins. He recorded 25 points in 17 regular season games, and nine in 11 playoff contests.
The winger is due for a raise from his previous $6 million AAV deal, and The Fourth Period's David Pagnotta reported earlier this month that he is "expected to test free agency."
Guentzel has also been connected to the Vancouver Canucks, as well as a potential reunion with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, per the Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli and The Athletic's Josh Yohe.
The veteran winger, who turns 30 in October, said in May he would like to "sign here long term" in Raleigh.
"This team for sure can win the Stanley Cup," Guentzel said after the Hurricanes were eliminated from the second round by the New York Rangers, per NHL.com's Kurt Dusterberg. "I think it's right there. This puts you in a good spot to do that. I want to do that more than anything, and that's all I care about. That definitely plays a factor into it. Hopefully you can kind of get some stability and be able to sign here long term."
But with a host of other pending free agents to consider, including Tuevo Teravainen, Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, the Hurricanes may not have the cap space to make Guentzel a higher offer than what he could find on the open market.
Despite being sidelined for almost a month with a rib injury, Guentzel's 77 total points in 67 games of the 2023-24 regular season rank third among all pending free agents. That could net him offers north of $8 million per year in free agency.
Guentzel made his NHL debut in 2015 and went on to help the Penguins win two Stanley Cups during his first two seasons. He has recorded 491 points in 520 regular-season games, and 67 points in 69 career playoff contests.
After spending the majority of eight seasons on Crosby's wing and clicking with Aho during the Canes' playoff push, Guentzel has proven he can provide consistent scoring on a team's top line. That valuable position could make it expensive for the Hurricanes to secure a long-term commitment from Guentzel before he tests out free agency.
