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Nashville Predators on The Hockey News
Predators Are In the Perfect Spot to Acquire & Sign Jake Guentzel
By Rob Couch,
2024-06-10
It appears as though Carolina Hurricanes' Jake Guentzel is going to test free agency. This opens up a lot of discussions as to where he will land this summer and which type of team he prefers.
Guentzel could be looking for a lucrative contract, thus eliminating some teams and opening up the possibility of a few rebuilding teams with cap space to target him. On the other hand, the former Stanley Cup champion could still be chasing wins and more Cups, making a competitive team a better possibility to land him.
Pierre LeBrun alluded to Guentzel testing free agency on July 1, but keeping the Hurricanes as an option. Elliotte Friedman reported that Carolina was shopping Guentzel's signing rights. This would only cost a mid-round pick.
Nashville Fits Both Possibilities for Guentzel
The Nashville Predators are in a unique position this offseason. This team covers both possibilities of what Guentzel could be looking for. The team has over $25 million to spare and are a contender. Nashville might not be a Stanley Cup contender right now, but with the right moves like bringing in Guentzel, that could change in an instant.
Barry Trotz brought in a couple of veterans who had won it all like Ryan O'Reilly and Luke Schenn. The Predators' GM is still looking for more of those types of players. I don't have to sell you on the fact that Guentzel is a winner or has what it takes in the playoffs to be a game-changer.
The 30-year-old has 38 goals and 67 points in 69 career playoff games, most recently scoring four goals and nine points in 11 games for the Hurricanes this postseason. The Predators can afford to hand out a long-term deal as Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg are the only significant cap hits on the books and they're both under $10 million AAV.
Many teams that will have interest in Guentzel can only offer a competitive team and a chance to win the Stanley Cup again or a long-term, high AAV contract. The Predators made the playoffs this season and were well under the cap ceiling with even more room to work with this summer to make their team a legitimate contender.
Exit Interview: Barry Trotz & Andrew Brunette (39:55)
The Predators have a Norris Trophy winner, Vezina finalist, and the franchise leader in single season goals all on their roster and playing great.
Nashville has a great opportunity to strike on the best of what free agency has to offer. If the team can get a head start on that by acquiring Guentzel's signing rights and negotiating with him ahead of every other interested party, there's no real risk in trying.
The Predators have two third-round picks and two fourth-round picks. If that's all it costs to potentially land what will be the biggest free agent if he makes it to July 1 without a new contract, that's more than worth it.
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