Latest Pens Buzz: Penguins have started to separate Contenders/Pretenders in Guentzel Talks

TRADE DEADLINE BUZZ

One Surprise Entry into Guentzel Market: Penguin management is very methodical in way they operate under Kyle Dubas. Even prior to deciding just recently to seriously listen on Jake Guentzel, the team has had a list together for over a month now of who they believed would be the top contenders to trade for Guentzel and what Pittsburgh would target in a trade from a list of up to eight teams, sources say. With the deadline inching closer, contenders/pretenders have started to emerge. Word is nothing has caught the Penguins by surprise on the market except for one team that’s been a late entry since the weekend:

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More Rumblings: Vancouver, Edmonton are on Guentzel No Trade List But……….To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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MORE BUZZ

— When it comes to Non-Superstar players on the market, the media is often way off what those specific players are going to go for or what they’re market is. Chris Tanev going to Dallas for a minimal return is another classic example of that. The return was nowhere near the first-round pick & more talk that followed Tanev for months. Will Jake Guentzel be another example of that in due time? Based off some scenarios that have come their way the Penguins will get a solid return for Guentzel if they move him, but it’s likely to be more under whelming than some expect……

— Did the Penguins make a mistake putting Guentzel on LTIR that will keep him out of the lineup past the deadline? There is word his injury is nowhere close to Penguins initial belief To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

— Biggest praise from scouts on Valtteri Puustinen? Puustinen’s sly puck hunting ability in the offensive zone. He shows elements of thinking before the play develops and for a smaller player has himself in great spots along the wall for puck battles. It took injuries to finally force coaches’ hand that they have to play Puustinen and the 24-year-old’s emergence is a big development in formulating the roster for next season along with DOC’s emergence.

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1000: Sidney Crosby on Tuesday Night became just the ninth player in NHL history with at least 1,000 Even-Strength Points

The List: