No one knows for sure how long the NHL season will remain on pause. But if — or when — the 2019-20 season does restart, Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is optimistic that Jake Guentzel’s season might resume along with it.
The Penguins general manager, speaking publicly for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NHL to suspend play, pointed out that when Guenzel was initially injured on Dec. 30, the Penguins projected he could return somewhere within four-to-six months. Rutherford said that, according to the reports he’s received, rehab is going well and there have not been any setbacks to this point.
“If you take the shortest period, that would be the end of April,” Rutherford said. “I would expect, knowing Jake Guentzel, that he’s going to be ready.”
Currently, the NHL has yet to lay out any type of timeframe for a possible return to the ice. The latest news said that the league would follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines issued on March 15 that recommend against gatherings of more than 50 people until at least May 10.
Rutherford did not provide any additional insight into when the league might resume or what type of playoff format might be considered. He said that his priority right now is the health and safety of fans and people in the community. He hopes everyone is following the guidelines put in place by medical professionals.
“To our fans, I look forward to seeing you soon safe and healthy,” Rutherford said. “We’ll be excited to get hockey back in our lives at some point in time.”
Guentzel was initially injured during the Penguins' Dec. 30 win over the Ottawa Senators at PPG Paints Arena when he violently collided with the boards after scoring his 20th goal of the season. The same day Guentzel learned he had been named an All-Star for the first-time in his career, questions emerged if he’d be able to finish the season.
The 25-year-old winger underwent significant shoulder surgery in the hours after the collision. At the time of his injury, Guentzel led the Penguins in points (43) and goals (20).
Should Guentzel — and the season — return, it would give the Penguins a key piece and plenty of lineup options. One scenario would be to have Guentzel step back into his regular role on Sidney Crosby’s left wing. That could slide recent acquisition Jason Zucker down to play on Evgeni Malkin’s line. In that case, Patrick Marleau, who had been playing next to Malkin, could play a bottom-six role instead of the one he was currently thrust into.
Or, if the Penguins coaching staff wants to get creative, it could choose to reunite Guentzel with Malkin. During Crosby’s injury absence, Guentzel found great chemistry playing on a line with Malkin and Bryan Rust. And really, that line carried the Penguins through a difficult injury-plagued stretch.
Those are just two of the many scenarios. But there are also plenty of other questions that will need to be answered before lineup combinations become a priority.
Mike DeFabo: mdefabo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MikeDeFabo.
First Published: March 25, 2020, 6:11 p.m.