NHL Rumors: Vancouver Canucks, Andrei Kuzmenko, Pittsburgh Penguins and Jake Guentzel

Vancouver Canucks would be interested in Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel and if there would be interest in Andrei Kuzmenko.

Jan 10, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel (59) chases the puck against Vancouver Canucks right wing Conor Garland (8) during the second period at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Sekeres and Price: Patrick Johnston when asked if the Vancouver Canucks would be interested in Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel and if there would be interest in Andrei Kuzmenko.

** NHLRumors.com transcription

Sekeres: “Rutherford, Allvin, they’ve done so much shopping from Pittsburgh already. Are they going to go to that well again on (Jake) Guentzel.”

Johnston: “The Pittsburgh, the deep Pittsburgh well. Sure, absolutely possible. I noticed this the, I noticed this the other day, absolutely. Player you know.

I think it’s still challenging. I think the Penguins aren’t I mean, they they pulled themselves into a decent spot. Like obviously it’s a dogfight. They’ve won a bunch, there plus 15 in goals for against. Like that, that’s not anything to sniff at.”

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Price: “Good indicator. Yep.”

Johnston: “Right, they’re playing really well defensively. If things go really sideways, yeah, sure. I just I have a hard time seeing them, unless there’s something coming back, that makes the team better. And Jake Guentzel is pretty great.”

Sekeres: “Ya, no, he is. So, let’s get into it then.”

Johnston: “Yeah.”

Sekeres: “Kuzmenko. Hoglander.”

Johnston: “I don’t think there’d be any interest in Kuzmenko.”

Sekeres: “No.”

Johnston: “I don’t think he’s a player that Kyle Dubis is interested in.”

Sekeres: “Okay.”

Johnston: “Since way back. This goes way back to when they were first chasing, you know, when he was first coming over. This was just not a player that fits what the, what,  that, what he wants. And I don’t think I don’t think he’d actually, as weird as it sounds, like what is it going to add, if Guentzel on the move, sure, great, maybe, but he’s a downgrade from Guentzel. I just don’t think he’s a player they’re interested in.”

Price: “He’d be a placeholder.”

Sekeres: ” I mean, theoretically, he would replace some of the Guentzel offense, because he has that sort of player.”

Johnston: “Yeah.”

Sekeres: “and needless to say, you know, I think…”

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Johnston: “He’s a finisher but I, Guentzel’s, Guentzel, I mean you can see why Rick Tocchet would want to get like Jake Guentzel, right? Like he’s a guy who gets on the puck and gets it done. And we’ve heard the frustrations he had with Andrei Kuzmenko. Guentzel is a  very different player in that regard. SoI just, it, I don’t think unless there’s some extra thing and he’s a throw in, I just don’t see him being player that Kyle Dubas is interested in.”

Sekeres: “Well, of course he would help balance salaries as well.”

 

 

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