Penguins Want Prospects Not Picks for Guentzel; Rust Won’t Be Traded

Multiple teams have told Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman that Pittsburgh Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas wants prospects, not picks if the Penguins trade Jake Guentzel.

Friedman made the report during the Headlines Segment of Hockey Night in Canada.

Earlier last week, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported at least one rival GM scoffed at the Penguins’ ask for Guentzel, calling it “ridiculous.”

Guentzel is currently on LTIR but participated in the Penguins’ optional morning skate Saturday before the team lost to the Calgary Flames 4-3 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. He’s eligible to come off the long-term injured list on March 10.

“From what I understand, Pittsburgh has told teams they are more interested in two prospects, as opposed to a prospect and a first-rounder,” Friedman said. “They prefer prospects over picks. That’s what Pittsburgh has told teams. They’ve told several teams.”

The scenario will change if the acquiring team needs the Penguins to eat salary or accept a salary in return.

Guentzel is the premier scoring forward on the NHL trade market, but his availability has been subject to question. However, two more Penguins losses on this road trip, including a come-from-ahead loss against the Calgary Flames on Saturday, will have done nothing to dissuade Dubas from selling parts to facilitate a retool.

Friedman also said the Penguins are honoring Bryan Rust’s no-move clause.

“I’m under the impression the Penguins went to him recently and said, ‘We aren’t even going to ask you to move it,’ so Rust is going to stay with Pittsburgh,” said Friedman. “He’s highly respected, and teams (still) ask.”

You can watch the entire HNIC segment here.

Guentzel has continued his torrid scoring pace this season with 52 points and 22 goals in 50 games. The 29-year-old left-wing carries a bargain $6 million salary cap hit, but his contract expires this summer, and he is a pending unrestricted free agent.

In later February, Dubas said he would let the team decide his direction based on its play. However, the team has not yet won more than three games in a row and is only 4-5-1 in their last 10.