Jake Guentzel is the cream of the crop for this incoming UFA class. He is a dynamic player who put up big numbers in Pittsburgh and Carolina this year as he output an impressive 77 points in 67 GP. The former Stanley Cup champion, would be an incredible add on any given team.
Another thing mentioned on the podcast is that the Chicago Blackhawks may be in on Guentzel. The Blackhawks finished 2nd last in the league last year, with very few bright spots to the season. One of those bright spots however, is Blackhawks rookie sensation Connor Bedard.
Chicago is also rumoured to be a potential landing spot for Mitch Marner if he lands on the trading block in Toronto. Of course, Marner has a full no-movement clause, which means he'd need to sign off on any trade before it could be completed.
Bedard definitely showed up as advertised for his team last season. It seems like the Blackhawks want to add a few high end pieces to play shotgun on his line, and Guentzel would be a tremendous add. A potential Guentzel-Bedard duo would be incredible for the city of Chicago. If they can also add Marner to the mix, the Hawks may be a force to be reckoned with in 2024-25.
