The Trade: Carolina Hurricanes acquire Jake Guentzel and minor-league defenseman Ty Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins. In return, the Penguins received winger Michael Bunting, prospects Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen, the rights to forward Cruz Lucius, a conditional 2024 first-round pick, and a conditional 2024 fifth-rounder
The Aftermath: So far, so good for the Hurricanes. Guentzel returned from an upper-body injury following the trade and quickly fit in well with his new club. Skating on the Hurricanes' first line alongside center Sebastian Aho, the 29-year-old winger has 20 points in 13 games.
Time will tell whether the draft picks and prospects received by the Penguins blossom into NHL players. Bunting, however, has provided an immediate boost to their roster. He has 13 points in 16 games playing left wing on their second line with Evgeni Malkin and Rickard Rakell. The 28-year-old has two more years left on his contract.
