Jake Guentzel will become a free agent this summer, making it possible for him to sign anywhere he wants, including a reunion with the Penguins.
However, after spending the past two months in Carolina, it appears Guentzel has a strong desire to re-sign with the Hurricanes.
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“I loved my experience here,” Guentzel said Saturday. “It’s a great place to play. I don’t think you realize the behind the scenes, how good it is. The guys make it good too. We’re going to see what happens over the next little bit here.”
The Penguins traded Guentzel to Carolina on March 7 for Michael Bunting, three prospects and the Flyers' second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. It was a contract year for Guentzel as he just completed the final season of a five-year, $30 million contract ($6 million average annual value) he signed with the Penguins. He finished the season with a combined 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) and a +25 rating between his time in Pittsburgh and Carolina.
Guentzel was productive for the Hurricanes, scoring 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in 25 regular-season games to help Carolina finish second in the Metropolitan Division. He also tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) in 11 playoff games. The Hurricanes lost in the second round of the playoffs to the Rangers in six games.
“This team for sure can win the Stanley Cup,” Guentzel said. “I think it’s right there. This puts you in a good spot to do that. I want to do that more than anything, and that’s all I care about. That definitely plays a factor into it. Hopefully you can kind of get some stability and be able to sign here long term.”
Guentzel has scored 227 goals over his first eight NHL seasons, and won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017. As a 29-year-old with that kind of productivity and playoff experience, he'll likely get a sizable contract this summer.
