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Jake Guentzel hints at intentions of re-signing with Carolina Hurricanes as free agency looms
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Jake Guentzel is about to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season. However, the player expressed his desire to continue with the Canes in a media briefing on Saturday.
In the interview, Guentzel opened up on positive feelings about his time with his current team. He mentioned how much he enjoyed playing in Carolina and acknowledged the supportive environment, both on and off the ice.
“I loved my experience here. 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,” Jake Guentzel said. [H/T NHL.com]
However, he also hinted at uncertainty about his plans, indicating that he's waiting to see what unfolds in the near future regarding his team or possibly his own situation.
Jake Guentzel then expressed strong confidence in his team's ability to win the Stanley Cup, believing that they are very close to achieving that goal. He emphasized that winning the Stanley Cup is his top priority and the main focus of his efforts.
“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 mentioned that this desire to win plays a significant role in his considerations about his future. He hopes to find stability and secure a long-term contract with the team. His last contract was worth $30 million for five years, originally inked with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Penguins secure strong return as Jake Guentzel trade closes
The Jake Guentzel trade officially closed on May 16, following the Carolina Hurricanes' game-six loss to the New York Rangers, marking the end of the season. It is safe to say that the Pittsburgh Penguins benefitted significantly from the trade despite not receiving their conditional picks.
Jake Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes on March 7. In return, the Penguins received the 44th overall pick from the Philadelphia Flyers, and forward Michael Bunting, who fit well within the team’s cap structure. Additionally, they acquired two promising prospects, Vasily Ponomarev and Ville Koivunen, and a mid-tier prospect, Cruz Lucius. In exchange, the Penguins traded Ty Smith.
Although Guentzel performed exceptionally well for the Hurricanes, scoring 34 points in 28 games, with 11 of them coming in the playoffs, the Hurricanes fell short of the conference finals. The Penguins, not in a position to re-sign Guentzel or make the playoffs, received a substantial return for the pending free agent.
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