Optimism Growing Around 'Forgotten' Piece of the Jake Guentzel Trade to Carolina
Cruz Lucius was a forgotten piece of the Penguins Jake Guentzel deal, but now the college winger is showing potential as a future NHLer in Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Penguins made one of the biggest trades in recent NHL memory by moving Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes, and in the deal they landed the likes of Vasily Ponomarev, Michael Bunting and Ville Koivunen along with a first-round pick.
The deal is seen as one of the biggest in Kyle Dubas' tenure with the Penguins so far, and given the pieces they acquired, they've set themselves up positively for the future.
Cruz Lucius' Stock Rising Despite Rocky Season at Arizona State University
One player that goes highly overlooked in the deal however is talented winger Cruz Lucius, as the Penguins acquired his rights in the trade, with the former fourth-round pick spending the last three seasons in college.
Despite undergoing surgery last season, the 21-year old posted 2 goals and 10 points in 19 games played with Arizona State, and after two productive seasons in Wisconsin, he's gaining steam as a very intriguing prospect.
Could Lucius star for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2025/26?
Now, he's likely to depart college in the near future, and with spots open in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the Penguins AHL affiliate, there's a chance that he can take another step forward in the near future.
At 6-foot-0, 178 pounds, there are certainly some limitations for Lucius at the next level, but given that he was arguably the fifth most valuable piece in the Guentzel deal, any production the team can get out of him would be amazing.
It's unclear exactly what Lucius' future holds and whether he can be an NHLer, but there's certainly talent there, and if he can have a fully healthy season next year, don't be surprised to see him getting consideration for a role in the NHL at some point.
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