Report: Canes making Guentzel's rights available for trade

The Carolina Hurricanes are open to trading the negotiating rights to pending unrestricted free agent Jake Guentzel, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said on the "32 Thoughts" podcast.

The asking price is a mid-round pick, Friedman notes.

Any team that acquires Guentzel's rights before free agency opens July 1 has the exclusive ability to sign him for eight years. If the star winger hits the open market without being moved, he can only ink a maximum seven-year deal.

The Hurricanes made a huge splash in acquiring Guentzel from the Pittsburgh Penguins prior to March's trade deadline. He was an instant fit, notching 25 points in 17 regular-season games. Guentzel added five goals and four assists in the playoffs as Carolina was eliminated in the second round.

Guentzel's price tag will likely be too high for the Hurricanes. The club has approximately $26.5 million in projected cap space, according to Cap Friendly, but only has 18 players signed for next season. It has eight UFAs and five restricted free agents unaccounted for.

Guentzel is arguably this summer's top free agent. The Stanley Cup champion is a two-time 40-goal scorer and has racked up 491 points in 520 games over eight seasons.