Amid rumors, what will the Penguins do with star Jake Guentzel?

With rumors swirling Pittsburgh Penguins star winger Jake Guentzel could be on the move, fans and media are left debating what should happen. While trading Guentzel would mark the end of an era for Pittsburgh, dealing the former 40-goal scorer might make sense as he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

It wasn’t long ago that Guentzel was the Penguins’ young secret weapon on back-to-back Stanley Cup-winning teams, but it’s now seven years later and the 29-year-old is at a completely different point in his career. Heading into Friday’s game against Minnesota, Guentzel — who is a  +12 overall — has already reached 50 points (22 goals, 28 assists). He’s only 23 points shy of matching his total from last season.

There’s no denying Guentzel is still productive, but the decision president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas must make relies more on projecting how much Guentzel can offer the franchise for years to come.

Why trading Guentzel makes sense 

Guentzel is in the final year of a five-year, $30 million contract he signed in 2018. At that time, he was about to enter his third NHL season. Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup window was wide open then and Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin were at the top of their games.

Fast forward to present day, and while Crosby can still argue he’s one of the best players in the world, the same can’t be said for Malkin. The Penguins, who sit fifth in the Metropolitan Division, are seven points behind Philadelphia for the final wild-card spot.

It’s time the Penguins realize rebuilding everything is on the horizon. That doesn’t have to mean embarking on a decade-long journey to get back to contention, but it may mean pressing pause instead of trying to scratch and claw to get into the playoffs this season.

This team is not a Cup threat now. Guentzel, meanwhile, is the only player who could bring enough value back in a deal.

Re-signing Guenztel to a new deal would require a significant investment in a player approaching his 30s. Paying Guentzel what he could command on the open market would restrict what can be used for the rest of the roster.

Why dealing Guentzel could cause a problem 

Trading Guenztel could ignite a serious rift from within because Crosby and Guenztel have formed a close relationship. Before Dubas signs off on any Guentzel trade, he must make sure it doesn’t upset the face of the franchise.

Losing his most trusted linemate could force Crosby to develop chemistry with someone new in the middle of a season. Removing one of the most skilled and popular players from the locker room would send a message that winning is no longer the top priority this season.

Pittsburgh still has time to turn its season around. Crosby and company have turned it on and fought their way out of a hole before to reach the playoffs. It’s even reasonable to have the “once in, anything can happen in the Stanley Cup playoffs” mentality based on history.