Jake Guentzel takes a shot at the Pittsburgh Penguins with recent comments
Photo credit: HTR
Jake Guentzel recently made headlines by signing a significant seven-year, $63-million deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
LOCKED IN. 🔒
We have signed forward Jake Guentzel to a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $9 million.
📝: http://tbl.co/Guentzel7-1
We have signed forward Jake Guentzel to a seven-year contract worth an AAV of $9 million.
📝: http://tbl.co/Guentzel7-1
Speaking to NHL.com's Jessi Pierce, Guentzel highlighted the Lightning's status as perennial contenders as a pivotal factor in his decision.
Must read on Hockey Trade Rumours
"They all know how to win," Guentzel told NHL.com's Jessi Pierce on Wednesday. "There's just a winning pedigree there. (And I) still feel like we have a chance to win."
The Lightning's recent track record speaks volumes: back-to-back Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021, with another finals appearance in 2022. Despite early playoff exits in subsequent seasons, they've consistently made the postseason for seven straight years.
"There's a lot of high-end players, elite players on the team, and just an unbelievable opportunity for me and my family to go do something else on our own," Guentzel said. "It's going to be fun for us. It's going to be different, it's going to be challenging, but it's going to be something that we're looking forward to."
Guentzel, who turned heads with his performance for the Carolina Hurricanes after a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins, looks forward to a fresh start in Tampa Bay.
Guentzel, known for his prolific scoring abilities, originally tasted Stanley Cup success with the Penguins in 2017. His career trajectory has been marked by consistent performance and clutch moments, making him a coveted asset for any team.
«My intention was to stay. They thought there was a better direction.»
Reflecting on his transition, Guentzel expressed optimism for the upcoming challenges:
Joining a star-studded lineup including Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, Brayden Point, and Andrei Vasilevskiy, Guentzel is poised to make an immediate impact in Tampa Bay. Despite the departure of longtime captain Steven Stamkos, the Lightning's roster remains formidable, promising a dynamic season ahead.
"It's a new team, a new division, and a new opportunity," Guentzel said. "Last year was a really different year for me with injury and being traded and what not, but I learned a lot, too. I think heading into this season with Tampa is going to be really exciting just to see what we can manage to do together with all the high-end talent there is."
Jake Guentzel's perspective on the Tampa Bay Lightning as a winning pedigree, distinct from his tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins, centers on the Lightning's recent history of sustained success in the NHL. While Guentzel enjoyed early career triumphs with the Penguins, including a Stanley Cup victory in 2017, his decision to join Tampa Bay underscores his admiration for their consistent championship caliber.
Despite his contributions to the Penguins' success in the past, Guentzel recognized Tampa Bay's ability to consistently contend for the Cup, attributing it to a roster stacked with elite talent and a management philosophy geared towards excellence.
Guentzel played 50 games with the Penguins last season, yet managed to maintain an impressive scoring rate, tallying 22 goals and 30 assists before his trade.
He is a two-time 40-goal scorer, having scored 36 goals in 78 games during the 2022-23 season. Drafted 77th overall by Pittsburgh in 2013, he spent parts of eight seasons with the team.
Source: The Score
Guentzel cites Lightning's 'winning pedigree' as reason for signing
Guentzel cites Lightning's 'winning pedigree' as reason for signing
| POLL | ||
18 JUILLET | 247 ANSWERS Jake Guentzel takes a shot at the Pittsburgh Penguins with recent comments Can Jake Guentzel win a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning? | ||
| Yes | 70 | 28.3 % |
| No | 177 | 71.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
Latest 10 stories
