Honestly baffled no one was willing to give up more for Guentzal. Canes finally traded for a game breaker at the deadline, they have been way too passive the last few years.
They've made serious plays for Eichel, Tkachuk, Meier, Pettersson, etc.
3 of those the Canes reportedly offered packages that could get a deal done but the other teams just went different directions (Calgary was enticed by Florida's win-now package vs. our futures, was reported that our offer was better than NJ's but SJS negotiated in bad faith and always planned to send him to NJ, and Vancouver wound up paying up to keep EP rather than trade him).
Hardly passive.