Why Red Wings May Not Be In Guentzel Sweepstakes

There’s no specific rumor linking Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel to a trade to the Detroit Red Wings and yet speculation hasn’t stopped.

“There are a lot of people who see it as a fit,” Sportsnet Insider Elliotte Friedman said during a recent podcast.

The problem with the idea is Guentzel will be 30 before next season and he wants a new seven- or eight-year deal. Anyone who knows general manager Steve Yzerman’s manager style knows he is never keen to hand out long-term deals. He seems to prefer four-year deals. That’s what he gave Alex DeBrincat. That’s what he recently worked out with Michael Rasmussen.

He gave Dylan Larkin eight years, but Larkin is his captain. Plus, the length of the negotiation suggests Yzerman didn’t give in to the term or price very easily.  Yzerman does give out some five-year deals, but he doesn’t go beyond that without a fight.

That’s why rivals don’t believe the Red Wings will chase Guentzel.

“It’s against what Yzerman tends to do, to give seven or eight year deals to 30 year-olds,” Friedman said.

Oilers Intrigued by Mantha?

Friedman’s podcast partner, Jeff Marek, did have trade tidbit about Detroit. A general manager told Marek that he believes Yzerman will pursue a defenseman with bite.

He told Marek, “Don’t be surprised if Yzerman gets someone who is smelly…hard to play against.”

Another Friedman/Marek report involves former Detroit Red Wings player Anthony Mantha as a possible fit for Edmonton’s second line. Mantha has 18 goals this season.

“Washington’s been trying to trade Mantha for a long time,” Friedman said. “But now we’re coming to the time where he’s a UFA, and the salary isn’t as much anymore. He’s gotten hot at the right time. And there’s going to be someone that’s going to say, ‘We’re going to take a chance, because he’s playing for his next deal, and he’ll be highly motivated to play for his next deal.’ … Who knows Anthony Mantha better than anyone else?”

That would be Edmonton general manager Ken Holland who drafted Mantha for the Red Wings.