Multiple factors making the Canucks favourites to land Jake Guentzel
There's no question that the Vancouver Canucks would like to add a scoring winger to their top-six forward group and while it's easier said than done, there is one name they've been linked to for quite a while now.
That player is Carolina Hurricanes forward Jake Guentzel, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. The Canucks were pursuing Guentzel before the trade deadline, but ultimately, the Penguins dealt him to the Hurricanes.
This summer as Patrik Allvin searches for help in his top-six, they'll likely circle back on Jake Guentzel once again and there are a couple of factors that link the Omaha native to Vancouver.
For starters, Guentzel shares the same agent as Canucks forward Brock Boeser. Patrick Johnston of The Province believes that Boeser has likely gone to his agent to suggest Vancouver as an option for Jake Guentzel.
Another factor linking Jake Guentzel to the Canucks is that he's very familiar with members of Vancouver's management staff from their time together with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jim Rutherford and Patrik Allvin saw Jake Guentzel development in Pittsburgh first-hand and know the type of player his is, so it'll be interesting if they offer him a contract once he hits the open market at Noon ET on Canada Day.
Guentzel, 29, appeared in 67 games this season between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes where he had 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists), 22 penalty minutes and was a plus-25. With Carolina in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he added nine points in 11 games.
Do you think the Vancouver Canucks should sign Jake Guentzel on July 1st? Let us know what you think in the poll below!
| POLL | ||
Should the Canucks sign Jake Guentzel on July 1st? | ||
| Yes | 1787 | 78.4 % |
| No | 493 | 21.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
