It may seem a little surprising when you think about it, given how much he has accomplished in such a short period of time, but Jake Guentzel made his Penguins debut just 25 months ago, burying two goals on his first two shots on Nov. 21, 2016.
Guentzel stuck around in Pittsburgh that spring, recording 21 points in the playoffs as the Penguins won their second Stanley Cup in a row. He had 48 points and another strong postseason in 2017-18. Now he’s close to a point-per-game pace this season.
“How it all happened the first couple of years, you’re kind of just trying to earn a spot and stay here,” he said after Thursday’s 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
Guentzel need not worry about that anymore.
Before Thursday’s game at PPG Paints Arena, the 24-year-old winger signed a five-year, $30 million extension that will kick in after this season. The Minnesota native will have a home in Pittsburgh – and presumably a regular role skating on the wing of the biggest star in hockey, Sidney Crosby – through the 2023-24 season.
“It’s exciting. This is where I want to be. I think it’s a top-notch organization and it runs all the way down to the best players and coaches,” said Guentzel, a 2013 third-round Penguins draft pick. “So it’s definitely a place I want to be and I’m happy to get it done.”
It appeared that Guentzel, who was slated to become a restricted free agent this summer, might not get a new deal until after the season. Guentzel said he was thrilled when the Penguins approached him recently, adding that contract talks “happened pretty quickly.”
Guentzel admitted the uncertainty had a created “a little extra stress,” not that it showed in his play. He has tallied 15 goals and 18 assists in 37 games this season while often being engaged defensively and being used a penalty-killer a lot lately.
“I can just focus on playing now,” he said, adding, “I think it helps everyone.”
So, beyond all that cash, why is he so pumped to stay in Pittsburgh?
“It starts with the fans, I think,” he said. “They’re second to none.”
Potentially playing with Crosby for another few years certainly didn’t hurt.
“They’re so many good players up and down the lineup,” Guentzel said diplomatically before conceding, “When you can be next to him, I think you have that little extra juice and motivation to do something. So you’re hoping you can be next to him.”
As the Penguins and his agent, Ben Hankinson, closed in on a deal, Guentzel had a lot to celebrate with parents Mike and Sally and the rest of his family over the holiday.
“They’re excited. It’s a pretty cool moment for all of us,” he said. “Just to share it with them... I wouldn’t be here without them, so it’s pretty cool.”
And, now that the ink is dry and the uncertainty is out of the way, Guentzel can turn his attention back to the ice, where he’s in the midst of a breakout campaign for a hot Penguins team that has now four games in a row and six out of its last seven.
Not bad for a kid who not too long ago was still trying to prove he belonged.
“I think when you kind of a get a deal like this, you feel a little more comfortable and confident out there,” Guentzel said. “So it’s definitely a good feeling.”
Matt Vensel: mvensel@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mattvensel. Click here to subscribe to Matt’s weekly From The Point hockey newsletter.
First Published: December 28, 2018, 4:04 a.m.
