One of the top potential free agents seemingly will test the market on July 1.
It seems like the dream of a Jake Guentzel extension in Carolina is all but dead.
On the most recent episode of Elliotte Friedman's 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman stated that it is his belief that Guentzel will be going to market.
Friedman stated that Guentzel's camp initially asked Carolina for an eight year, $64 million deal and that while the Canes did try to haggle and negotiate, they eventually agreed to that ask on Thursday.
However, it is believed that that 8x8 deal was an earlier ask and with the market changing, i.e. Tampa Bay shedding a ton of cap space, and with how close free agency is, that Guentzel has decided to just go to free agency anyway.
Now that isn't to say that the Canes are completely out of it as Guentzel could always circle back, but at this time it is believed that Tampa Bay would be the front runners with the cap space to offer him a larger contract on top of Florida being a tax-free state.
Also, as soon as July 1 hits, Carolina can no longer offer Guentzel an eight-year deal so they'll be on the same footing as everyone else.
Again, it isn't completely dead, but it seems that the Hurricanes front office and ownership flew a bit too close to the sun on negotiations and they may be left at the dance without a partner.
Already with the majority of the Hurricanes' other free agents also expected to go to market as well as Martin Necas wanting out, this offseason could be a painful one, even more so with Guentzel leaving when the team could have had him at asking price.
