Jake Guentzel Expresses Desire To Stay With Penguins
The 2023-24 NHL Season is about to start. Guys who are in the final year of their contracts are running out of time to get contract extensions done. The Winnipeg Jets just struck a deal with Mark Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck at the last hour. Jake Guentzel hopes that he’s next.
The Penguins winger has expressed a desire to stay in Pittsburgh.
“I’ve pretty much grown up in Pittsburgh,” Guentzel said in an interview with The Athletic’s Josh Yohe. “I love this place so much. I really do. This is a great place, both for me and my family. I don’t want to be anywhere else.”
He added, “I can’t even tell you how much I love it here. From playing with (Sidney Crosby), to the ownership, the people in this city, the team … This is where I want to be. For now, I’m just focusing on playing. We’ll see if it happens. I hope it does.”
Guentzel, 29, is in the final year of a five year pact that pays him an AAV of $6 million. He’s certainly going to want a raise on that number based on the production he provides. Guentzel posted 37 goals and 73 total points a season ago. He also has two separate seasons of 40 goals.
Guentzel is a game time decision tonight with the season opening against Chicago. He’s still on the mend from ankle surgery that happened this offseason. Regardless, there is some pressure on Kyle Dubas to get this deal done. He’s the best winger the Penguins have and I have no idea how they would replace him given the poor minor league system Pittsburgh has right now.
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