Kyle Dubas hits back at “emotional” Jake Guentzel

The Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed in the Carolina Hurricanes and former teammate Jake Guentzel for the first time since the trade that sent the popular ex-Penguins forward to Raleigh in exchange for Michael Bunting.

Guentzel, who received a video tribute thanking him for his contributions that included being a major part of the 2017 Stanley Cup winning squad, threw some shade at Dubas afterward for trading him from the place "that I kind of grew up in".

“My intention was to stay,” Guentzel said. “But they just thought there was a better direction to go, a different way. It’s out of my hands. It’s not my choice.”

No doubt, Dubas is well aware of how Guentzel feels about having been traded from Pittsburgh, and is now responding.

“He’s entitled to his opinion, especially in this market, to give his opinion,” Dubas said. “What I would say is that going into this year, I hoped that everything would go to the most optimistic viewpoint, we would be a contending team, and that would dictate decision-making differently than it did.

“I’m sorry that it ended up being Jake as the one whose contract was up at that time … that’s how he feels about it. Especially right after a game, competitors like Jake are emotional. He’s entitled to feel how he feels, and I don’t take umbrage at all.”

In the meantime, Penguins fans made it clear how they felt about Guentzel, welcoming him back with cheers and a standing ovation.

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