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Jake Guentzel

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Jake Guentzel
Guentzel with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs
Born (1994-10-06) October 6, 1994 (age 30)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Tampa Bay Lightning
Pittsburgh Penguins
Carolina Hurricanes
NHL draft 77th overall, 2013
Pittsburgh Penguins
Playing career 2016–present

Jake Allen Guentzel (born October 6, 1994) is an American professional ice hockey left winger for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the third round, 77th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, and won the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017. Guentzel has also previously played for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Playing career

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Amateur

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Born in Omaha, Nebraska[1] on October 6, 1994, Guentzel grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota. He played two years of varsity hockey at the Hill-Murray School, finishing 2nd in the 2012 MN State Hockey Tournament,[2] in Maplewood, Minnesota, before committing to the University of Nebraska-Omaha after his senior season.[3]

Guentzel playing for the Omaha Mavericks in 2015

In his freshman year at the University of Nebraska Omaha, Guentzel was named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team, the NCHC All-Conference Rookie Team and was a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year.[4] In his sophomore season, he helped guide the Mavericks to their first showing in the Frozen Four, scoring the team's only goal in a 4–1 loss to the Providence Friars.[5] On August 27, 2015, before Guentzel's junior year, he was named a co-captain along with Brian Cooper after a vote by the team.[6]

Professional

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Pittsburgh Penguins

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After the 2015–16 season, Guentzel signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on May 23, 2016.[7]

Guentzel, Nick Bonino, and Kris Letang celebrating the Penguins' Stanley Cup win in 2017

Guentzel began the 2016–17 season with the Penguins American Hockey League affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.[8] After a recall, Guentzel made his NHL debut on November 21, 2016, against the New York Rangers; he scored two goals on his first two shots.[9] Despite this, the Penguins lost the game 5–2.[10]

On March 21, 2017, Guentzel suffered a concussion on a check from Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen. He missed the next 4 games, while Ristolainen was suspended by the league for 3 games.[11] On April 16, 2017, he scored a hat-trick, which included the game-winning goal in overtime, to put the Penguins up 3–0 in their first-round playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He became the first Penguins rookie to score a playoff hat-trick, and only the second rookie in NHL history to score a hat-trick and overtime goal in the same game of the playoffs.[12] On June 11, 2017, the Penguins won the Stanley Cup after defeating the Nashville Predators in six games. During the run, Guentzel recorded 21 points, tying Dino Ciccarelli and Ville Leino for points by a rookie in a single postseason. His total of 13 goals was one shy of Ciccarelli's record.[13]

Guentzel began the 2017–18 season in the NHL, putting up a career high 48 points in 82 games to help the Penguins qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs. During the first round of the playoffs, Guentzel recorded four goals in an 8–5 Game 6 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.[14] He became the third Penguins player to record four goals in a playoff game, behind Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens.[15]

Guentzel with his family following the Penguins' Stanley Cup win in 2017

The 2018–19 season marked the last year Guentzel was on his entry level rookie contract. The Penguins began the season with a slow start, landing near the bottom of the league in early November.[16] On November 24, 2018, Guentzel recorded his first regular season hat trick in a 4–2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.[17] The following month, on December 27, the Penguins re-signed Guentzel to a five-year, $30 million contract.[18] Guentzel recorded his second regular season hat trick in a 7–4 win over the Anaheim Ducks on January 11, 2019.[19] His hat trick was the first by a Penguins player ever against the Anaheim Ducks.[20] After a two-goal game the following night against the Los Angeles Kings, Guentzel was named the NHL's Third Star of the Week.[21]

In the 2019–20 season, Guentzel put up 20 goals and 43 points in 39 games for the Penguins, and was voted in to play in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.[22] On December 30, 2019, Guentzel recorded his 200th career point as he scored a goal against the Ottawa Senators. However, immediately after scoring the goal, Guentzel tripped over the stick of Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot, and crashed shoulder first into the boards behind the net. The next day, Guentzel underwent successful shoulder surgery that sidelined him for 6 months.[23] Guentzel was expected to miss the remainder of the season, but with the NHL pushing the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs into early August due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was able to recover and join his teammates for the postseason.[24] Despite a healthy Guentzel available to the team, the heavily favored Penguins were upset by the Montreal Canadiens in the Qualifying Round of the tournament in four games.[25]

The 2020–21 season was shortened due to the ongoing effects of the pandemic. In the 56-game season, Guentzel continued to score at a torrid pace. For the second straight season, Guenztel finished at a point-per-game production rate with 23 goals and 57 points that season.[26] Pittsburgh once again fell to the New York Islanders in the First Round of the following postseason, where he and his linemates struggled to produce. He scored only one goal and two points as the Penguins were eliminated in six games.[27]

In the 2021–22 season, the league returned to its usual 82-game format. Although he missed the season opener against the Tampa Bay Lightning due to the NHL's COVID-19 protocol, he made his season debut against the Florida Panthers on October 14 in a 5–4 overtime loss.[26] He once again posted high production numbers through November 2021, scoring 15 points through the Penguins' 14 November games. From November 13 against the Ottawa Senators until December 6 in the Penguins' first ever game against the expansion Seattle Kraken, Guenztel amassed a 13-game point streak where he collected a total of 12 goals and 19 points overall.[28] In the twelfth game, he scored a hat trick and an assist against the Vancouver Canucks in a 4–1 victory.[29] In the thirteenth game, Guentzel left the game against Seattle after blocking a shot with his right hand in the first period. Although he would return to the game and score two goals and an assist in the 6–1 victory, the streak would end as head coach Mike Sullivan ruled him out for a few weeks on December 8.[30]

Guentzel celebrates his hat-trick against the Boston Bruins with Penguins teammates at PPG Paints Arena. Fans are throwing hats on the ice in celebration.

Guentzel's finish to the season was another 40-goal campaign, capped off by another hat trick against the Boston Bruins.[31] However, despite holding a 3-1 series lead over the New York Rangers in the first round of the postseason and Guentzel's eight goals through the series, the Rangers rallied to eliminate the Penguins in seven games.[32]

In the 2022–23 season, Guentzel remained on the Penguins first line for 78 games of the season. Guentzel fell just short of his previous season's 40-goal mark, finishing with 36 goals and 37 assists. This season was also the first time in his career with the Penguins that he did not make a postseason appearance, as the Penguins failed to make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2006.[33]

Carolina Hurricanes

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On March 7, 2024, while on the injured reserve list, Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, along with Ty Smith, in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, prospect Cruz Lucius, Vasili Ponomaryov, and two conditional 2024 draft picks.[34] He would soon be activated on March 12,[35] then score his first goal with the Hurricanes on March 17.[36]

Tampa Bay Lightning

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With his contract expiring in the 2024 offseason, Guentzel was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 30, 2024, in exchange for a third-round pick in 2025.[37] He later signed a seven-year, $63 million contract.

Personal life

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Guentzel comes from an ice hockey family.[38] His father, Mike, was a standout athlete for Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minnesota, and subsequently played hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Later on Mike became the associate head coach at the University of Minnesota.[39] Guentzel was a stick boy for the team when future Penguins teammate Phil Kessel played for Minnesota.[40] His older brother, Ryan, played collegiately and professionally.[41][42] Another older brother, Gabe, played in the North American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League before embarking on a four-year NCAA career at Colorado College.[43]

Guentzel married his longtime girlfriend, Natalie Johnson, on July 30, 2021.[44] The couple's first son, Charlie, was born on August 4, 2022.[45]

Career statistics

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Bold indicates led league

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2010–11 Hill-Murray School USHS 25 15 28 43 10 3 4 2 6 4
2011–12 Hill-Murray School USHS 31 23 52 75 16 3 1 4 5 0
2012–13 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 60 29 44 73 24 — — — — —
2013–14 University of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 37 7 27 34 16 — — — — —
2014–15 University of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 36 14 25 39 34 — — — — —
2015–16 University of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 35 19 27 46 20 — — — — —
2015–16 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 11 2 4 6 0 10 5 9 14 0
2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 33 21 21 42 12 — — — — —
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 40 16 17 33 10 25 13 8 21 10
2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 22 26 48 42 12 10 11 21 8
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 82 40 36 76 26 4 1 0 1 0
2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 39 20 23 43 14 4 1 2 3 0
2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 56 23 34 57 28 6 1 1 2 6
2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 76 40 44 84 44 7 8 2 10 2
2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 78 36 37 73 46 — — — — —
2023–24 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 50 22 30 52 14 — — — — —
2023–24 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 17 8 17 25 8 11 4 5 9 16
NHL totals 520 227 264 491 232 69 38 29 67 42

Awards and honors

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Guentzel with the Penguins during the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals.
Award Year Ref
USHL
All-Rookie Team 2013
Rookie of the year 2013 [46]
Second all-star team 2013
College
NCHC All-Rookie Team 2014
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2017 [47]
All-Star Game 2020, 2022 [48]

References

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  1. ^ Boone, Tony (November 14, 2015). "Guentzel's hockey career winds up down the street from where he was born". World-Herald. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  2. ^ "MN Boys' Hockey Hub". Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "Jake Guentzel Hockey's Future Page". Hockey's Future. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  4. ^ "JAKE GUENTZEL". omavs.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  5. ^ Boone, Tony (April 9, 2015). "Providence's unrelenting pressure tops UNO in Frozen Four". omaha.com. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "COOPER, GUENTZEL NAMED HOCKEY CAPTAINS". omavs.com. August 27, 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  7. ^ "Penguins sign forward Jake Guentzel to three-year entry-level deal". Pittsburgh Penguins. May 23, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  8. ^ "GUENTZEL, ROWNEY ASSIGNED TO WILKES-BARRE". wbspenguins.com. October 7, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  9. ^ Guentzel, Jake (May 12, 2017). "Kesselmania Runs Wild". The Players' Tribune. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  10. ^ Tasch, Justin (November 21, 2016). "Rangers score five unanswered goals to pound Penguins, 5–2". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 22, 2016.
  11. ^ Brandon Schlager. "Sabres' Rasmus Ristolainen gets three-game ban for hit on Penguins' Jake Guentzel". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved September 12, 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ Michelle Crechiolo (April 16, 2017). "The Inside Scoop: Guentzel's Goals". NHL.com. Retrieved April 16, 2017.
  13. ^ Campbell, Tim (June 9, 2017). "Jake Guentzel of Penguins ties rookie record for playoff points". NHL.com. NHL. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  14. ^ Gretz, Adam (April 22, 2018). "Guentzel scores 4 as Penguins eliminate Flyers in bonkers Game 6". nhl.nbcsports.com. Retrieved April 22, 2018.
  15. ^ @penguins (April 22, 2018). "Guentzel has recorded just the third four-goal game in Penguins playoff history. The others? Mario Lemieux on 04.25.89 (five goals) and Kevin Stevens on 05.21.91" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ Gretz, Adam (November 7, 2018). "Obviously unhappy GM rips Penguins' slow start". nhl.nbcsports.com. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Crosby, Wes (November 24, 2018). "Guentzel hat trick sparks Penguins past Blue Jackets". NHL.com. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  18. ^ Johnston, Mike (December 27, 2018). "Penguins sign Jake Guentzel to big five-year contract extension". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  19. ^ Arritt, Dan (January 12, 2019). "Ducks lose 10th straight game after Penguins score seven". NHL.com. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  20. ^ @SethRorabaugh (January 11, 2019). "Jake Guentzel recorded the Penguins' first hat trick in franchise history against the Ducks. The Penguins' last hat trick in California was recorded by Ron Francis in a 9-1 win at San Jose, Nov. 10, 1995" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. ^ "Giordano leads 3 Stars of the Week". NHL.com. January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  22. ^ "Jake Guentzel Selected to Play in the 2020 NHL All-Star Game". nhl.com. December 30, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  23. ^ "Penguins F Guentzel out four-to-six months". tsn.ca. December 31, 2019. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
  24. ^ "Training camp preview: Injured players returning in Eastern Conference". NHL.com. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  25. ^ Rossi, Rob; Yohe, Josh (August 13, 2020). "Inside the Penguins' collapse and the big changes still to come". The Athletic. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  26. ^ a b "Penguins' Jake Guentzel to make season debut vs. Panthers". The Athletic. October 14, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  27. ^ Rossi, Rob; Gentille, Sean; Yohe, Josh (May 26, 2021). "Penguins report cards: Sidney Crosby's line delivers a dud in Game 6 loss to Islanders". The Athletic. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  28. ^ "Jake Guentzel Game by Game Stats and Performance". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  29. ^ Woodley, Kevin (December 5, 2021). "Guentzel has hat trick, assist for Penguins in victory against Canucks". NHL. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  30. ^ Defabo, Mike (December 8, 2021). "Jake Guentzel out 'week-to-week' with upper body injury". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  31. ^ Rorabaugh, Seth (April 22, 2022). "Penguins forward Jake Guentzel reaches 40-goal mark again". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Archived from the original on April 23, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  32. ^ Crosby, Wes (May 16, 2022). "Penguins out due to Jarry injury, failure to close series against Rangers". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  33. ^ "Jake Guentzel Stats And News". NHL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  34. ^ "Canes Acquire Guentzel, Smith From Penguins". NHL.com. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  35. ^ "Guentzel likely to make Hurricanes debut against Rangers". NHL.com. March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  36. ^ "Orlov records 4 points, Hurricanes score 4 goals in 3rd period for 7-2 win over Senators". ESPN. March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  37. ^ "Guentzel traded to Lightning by Hurricanes for 3rd-round pick in 2025 Draft". NHL.com. June 30, 2024.
  38. ^ "All In The Family". Minnesota Hockey Journal. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  39. ^ "Mike Guentzel Bio:: University of Minnesota Official Athletic Site :: Ice Hockey". www.gophersports.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  40. ^ Sadler, Emily (May 13, 2017). "Penguins' Guentzel shares awesome story of meeting Kessel as a kid". Sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  41. ^ "Ryan Guentzel | LinkedIn". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  42. ^ "RYAN GUENTZEL". eliteprospects.com. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  43. ^ "Gabe Guentzel – 2011–2012 Men's Ice Hockey". Retrieved December 3, 2016.
  44. ^ "Pittsburgh Penguins congratulate player Jake Guentzel on marriage". August 18, 2021.
  45. ^ "Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake Guentzel welcomes a baby boy to his family". cbsnews.com. August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  46. ^ "Jake Guentzel named USHL rookie of the year". juniorhockey.com. May 3, 2013. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  47. ^ "Penguins repeat as Stanley Cup champions". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. June 11, 2017. Retrieved June 11, 2017.
  48. ^ "NHL All-Star Game rosters revealed". National Hockey League. December 30, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
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