One of the most intriguing storylines ahead of the Mar. 8 trade deadline has been the availability of its most notable target, two-time 40-goal-scorer Jake Guentzel.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been reluctant to throw in the towel on this season, and that's left his status in limbo at times. After they strung together three straight wins just less than two weeks ago, it seemed as if they might be able to justify keeping him around for another run at the postseason. Then they followed that up with another three straight humiliating losses on a Pacific Division road trip, and here we are.

There's no longer any ambiguity to Guentzel's status. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday that the Penguins are listening, and even added their preferred template in return for their pending u