The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Jake Guentzel to the Tampa Bay Lightning just before the start of free agency and only a few months after he was acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
For Carolina, the trade made sense, even if it only netted a 25 third-round pick. Guentzel was on an expiring contract and eyeing a significant new deal—he signed a seven-year, $63 million deal with Tampa Bay—and the Hurricanes were reportedly resigned to the fact that he would depart.
"I believe Carolina has let everyone know that if you want to trade for his rights for the chance to sign him, that it is possible for a mid-round pick," Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the 32 Thoughts podcast on June 7 (h/t Heavy's Antonio Losada).