Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Pittsburgh Penguins are set to clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning this Thursday in Florida, aiming to secure a spot in the playoffs while the Lightning seeks to solidify their lead in the Atlantic Division. A notable subplot to this matchup is the return of Jake Guentzel, who once played for the Penguins before being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2024 deadline. Guentzel was subsequently dealt to the Lightning during the off-season, marking the fifth time Pittsburgh will face him. To date, he has not scored any goals against his former team, instead contributing three assists over four games.
The Guentzel Trade
The trade that sent Guentzel and defenseman Ty Smith to the Hurricanes raised eyebrows, perceived as a quantity-driven move rather than one focused on quality. It seems the long-term impact is still unfolding, particularly when considering the prospects included in the deal. Let’s take a closer look at how the Guentzel trade has evolved:
- On March 8, 2024, Pittsburgh received forwards Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Vasily Ponomarev, and Cruz Lucius, along with a conditional first-round and fifth-round draft pick from Carolina in exchange for Guentzel and Smith.
- On June 29, 2024, the Penguins utilized the conditional first-round pick from the Hurricanes (which later proved not to be applied) to draft defenseman Harrison Brunicke 44th overall during the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
- The following day, the Hurricanes traded a third-round pick acquired from Tampa Bay for Guentzel.
- Guentzel then signed a lucrative seven-year, $63 million contract with the Lightning on July 1, 2024.
- The Penguins negotiated a trade with the Nashville Predators on March 6, 2025, acquiring forward Tommy Novak and defenseman Luke Schenn in exchange for Bunting and a 2026 fourth-round pick.
- Just a day later, on March 7, 2025, Pittsburgh traded Schenn to the Winnipeg Jets for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 fourth-round pick.
- Lastly, on June 28, 2025, the Hurricanes selected defenseman Roman Bausov 87th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft using the third-round pick they obtained from Tampa.
Trade Analysis
When assessing the outcome of this trade tree, it’s clear that the Lightning emerge as significant beneficiaries, having secured a consistent 30-40 goal-scorer for just a third-round pick due to Guentzel’s status as an unrestricted free agent. Conversely, the Hurricanes seem to have faced a setback, acquiring only a third-rounder while losing a top-tier player. They not only were deprived of Guentzel’s scoring ability but also lost potential contributions from Koivunen and a valuable second-round pick that aided the Penguins in drafting Brunicke.
Future Prospects for the Penguins
On a brighter note for Pittsburgh, the franchise recently introduced a promising young line featuring Rutger McGroarty, Ben Kindel, and Koivunen, which showed potential in their debut against the Philadelphia Flyers. The evaluation surrounding the Guentzel trade remains complex; finding a replacement for an elite scorer is challenging, especially without securing a first-round pick. However, the Penguins seem to have gained substantial assets in Brunicke and Lucius, with Novak proving to be a dependable option on the roster. The depth of Pittsburgh’s prospects looks encouraging, potentially setting the stage for an intriguing future.
Stay Updated
As the Penguins prepare to face one of the league’s toughest teams, they look to prove themselves. Fans can stay updated on the latest on the Penguins, including lineup changes and game insights, by bookmarking the team’s news portal.
