Pittsburgh Penguins' troubled breakup with Jake Guentzel returns to haunt them

Traded before the March deadline, Guentzel has expressed his desire to return to Pittsburgh in the past. It appears unlikely that Crosby's wish to play alongside him again will be fulfilled.

Guentzel is set to explore free agency in July. He may consider offers from Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas, who would need to make roster adjustments to accommodate the winger within the salary cap. Speculations suggest that Guentzel could land a six year contract worth $8 million per year as a free agent.

However, Josh Yohe of The Athletic offers an assessment that such a scenario's improbable, and advises Penguins supporters not to get their hopes up. Yohe suggests that it would be highly unexpected for Guentzel to entertain returning to the Penguins, despite his friendship with Crosby and positive experiences in Pittsburgh.

Yohe reports, on a relationship between Guentzel and team management indicating that unresolved issues, from their interactions still linger. Furthermore the Penguins are facing constraints this summer making it less probable for Guentzel to come back unless he agrees to a lower salary, than his true worth in Pittsburgh. Given the circumstances a reunion seems improbable.

According to Yohe:

The likelihood of the Penguins matching any offers for Guentzel in free agency is diminishing. Without some intervention from Crosby benefiting both the team and Guentzel, it appears unlikely that Guentzel will return to Pittsburgh in the future...

Source: Hockey Feed
Ugly divorce with Jake Guentzel comes back to haunt the Penguins