The Carolina Hurricanes acquired scoring winger Jake Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins, adding another offensive weapon ahead of the playoffs, Sportsnet can confirm.
Forward Michael Bunting is part of the package going to Pittsburgh, which also includes prospects Ville Koivunen, Vasili Ponomarev, Cruz Lucius, a conditional first- and fifth-round pick in 2024.
Defenceman Ty Smith also goes to Carolina with Guentzel. The Penguins will retain 25 per cent of Guentzel’s salary.
Guentzel, 29, is a pending UFA who is in the midst of his seventh-straight 20-goal season. He was considered one of the top forwards available prior to Friday’s 3 p.m. ET trade deadline.
Guentzel has been out of the lineup since suffering an upper-body injury on Feb. 14. In 50 games this season, he has 22 goals and 52 points.
The move marks a pivot for the struggling Penguins, who are now on track to miss the playoffs for a second consecutive year. The pieces acquired in this trade will be used to help the Penguins as they begin to transition the roster to a new, younger core.
The Hurricanes sit second in the Metropolitan Division.
The move will reunite Bunting with ex-Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, who now runs the show in Pittsburgh.
Bunting, 28, has 13 goals and 13 assists in 60 games this season. The Toronto native signed a three-year, $13.5-million deal with the Hurricanes last summer following two 23-goal seasons with the Maple Leafs.
