Jake Guentzel is an American professional hockey forward known for his high-octane scoring ability and clutch playoff performances. Born on October 06, 1994, in Omaha, NE, he burst onto the national scene during his USHL season with the Sioux City Musketeers, earning USHL Rookie of the Year honors and multiple All-Star accolades. After a successful collegiate career at the University of Nebraska Omaha—where he garnered spots on the All-Rookie and Honorable Mention All-Star Teams—Guentzel advanced to the professional ranks. He refined his game in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before making his NHL debut with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Over the years, he has evolved into a reliable scorer, contributing significantly in both the regular season and playoffs, including a Stanley Cup championship run in his rookie NHL season. Following a high-profile trade to the Carolina Hurricanes and later a move to the Tampa Bay Lightning—where he inked a new seven-year deal—Guentzel continues to be a vital offensive presence, both in league play and international tournaments such as the NHL’s Four Nations Tournament.
Junior & College Career (USHL / NCAA)
Guentzel burst onto the national scene during the 2012–13 season with the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL. In 60 games, he amassed 29 goals, 44 assists, and 73 points, while picking up 24 penalty minutes.
Collegiate Hockey at University of Nebraska Omaha:
After his USHL success, Guentzel advanced to NCAA hockey in the NCHC at Omaha.
- Freshman Season: Over 37 games, he recorded 7 goals, 27 assists, and 34 points with 16 penalty minutes.
- Sophomore Season: In 36 games, he tallied 14 goals, 25 assists (39 points), and logged 34 penalty minutes.
- Junior Season (2015–16): He played 35 games, producing 19 goals, 27 assists, and 46 points while registering 20 penalty minutes and a +6 rating.
Overall, Guentzel’s NCAA career comprised 108 games, 40 goals, 79 assists, 119 points, and 70 penalty minutes.
AHL Career
Professional Beginnings:
Guentzel began his professional journey in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
- 2015–16 Regular Season: In 11 games, he recorded two goals, four assists, and six points, with zero penalty minutes and a –1 rating.
- 2015–16 Playoffs: Over 10 games, he notched five goals, nine assists (14 points), maintained zero penalty minutes, and posted a +2 rating.
2016–17 Season in the AHL:
Guentzel played 33 games, producing 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points. He also accumulated 12 penalty minutes and an impressive +21 rating.
Jake Guentzel Stats & Salary Cap
NHL Debut with Pittsburgh Penguins (2016–17):
In one standout season, Guentzel proved his worth on both the regular season and the playoff stage. During the regular season, he played 40 games, scoring 16 goals and adding 17 assists for a total of 33 points, along with 10 penalty minutes and a +7 rating. In the playoffs, his performance remained impactful over 25 games, where he contributed 13 goals and eight assists (21 points total) while matching his 10 penalty minutes and posting a +1 rating. Guentzel not only posted strong numbers—33 points in the regular season and 21 points in the playoffs—but he also played a key role in helping the Pittsburgh Penguins win the Stanley Cup.
2017–18 Season:
Guentzel played all 82 games for Pittsburgh, recording 22 goals and 26 assists (48 points) with 42 penalty minutes and a –9 rating. In the playoffs, he produced 10 goals and 11 assists (21 points) in 12 games, with eight penalty minutes and a +10 rating.
Breakout Season (2018–19):
Guentzel reached a major milestone in this 82-game season. He finished with 40 goals, 36 assists (76 points), 26 penalty minutes, and a +13 rating. In December of that year, he signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension with the Penguins. His playoff contribution was modest, with a goal in four games.
2019–20 Season:
Regular Season: In 39 games, he tallied 20 goals, 23 assists (43 points), with 14 penalty minutes and a +11 rating.
Playoffs: In 4 games, he added a goal and two assists (3 points) with zero penalty minutes and a +1 rating.
2020–21 Season:
Guentzel played 56 games, scoring 23 goals and 34 assists (57 points) with 28 penalty minutes and a +7 rating. In 6 playoff games, he produced 1 goal and 1 assist (2 points), accumulating 6 penalty minutes and a –6 rating.
2021–22 Season:
In 76 regular season games, he recorded 40 goals and 44 assists (84 points) with 44 penalty minutes and a +13 rating. His playoff performance included eight goals and two assists in seven games (10 points), with two penalty minutes and a +1 rating.
2022–23 Season:
Guentzel appeared in 78 games for Pittsburgh, scoring 36 goals and 37 assists (73 points) while recording 46 penalty minutes and a +2 rating.
2023–24 Season – A Split Season:
He would start the season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and in 50 games, he registered 22 goals and 30 assists (52 points) with 14 penalty minutes and a +9 rating.
In a blockbuster move, Guentzel was traded along with Ty Smith to the Hurricanes in exchange for Michael Bunting, Ville Koivunen, Cruz Lucius, Wassili Ponomarjow, and conditional first‑ and five‑round draft picks. The Penguins continued to cover a portion of his salary.
Over 17 games with the Hurricanes, he tallied eight goals and 17 assists (25 points) with eight penalty minutes and a +16 rating. In the Hurricanes’ playoffs, he added four goals and five assists (9 points), recorded 16 penalty minutes, and posted a +4 rating.
2024–25 Season – Tampa Bay Lightning
Guentzel signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1, 2024, after the team acquired his rights from Carolina in exchange for a third‑round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He inked a seven‑year, $63 million contract (averaging $9 million per season).
In the 2024–25 season, Guentzel has continued to shine with the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 55 regular season games so far this season, he has recorded an impressive 27 goals and 27 assists, totaling 54 points, while maintaining discipline with only 16 penalty minutes and posting a +8 rating. Additionally, he showcased his international prowess with Team USA in the NHL Four Nations Tournament, contributing three goals and an assist in 4 games. These solid numbers underscore his valuable impact on both the domestic and international stages, and projections suggest he could finish the season with around 41 goals and 41 assists, further cementing his status as a top forward in the league.
Awards and Honors
- 2012–13 (USHL):
- USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game Selection
- USHL All-Rookie Team
- USHL Rookie of the Year
- USHL Second All-Star Team
- 2013–14 (NCAA – NCHC):
- NCAA (NCHC) All-Rookie Team
- 2014–15 (NCAA – NCHC):
- NCAA (NCHC) Honorable Mention All-Star Team
- 2015–16:
- Set an AHL playoff record for most assists by a rookie (9)
- NCAA (NCHC) Second All-Star Team
- 2016–17:
- Named to the AHL All-Rookie Team
- Selected for the AHL All-Star Game
- AHL Rookie of the Month for December
- Led the NHL playoffs with 13 goals
- Helped Pittsburgh win the Stanley Cup
- 2019–20:
- Selected to the NHL All-Star Game (did not play due to injury)
- 2021–22:
- Selected to the NHL All-Star Game
- 2024–25:
- Represented Team USA in the NHL Four Nations Tournament, finishing as Runner Up
ITR 27: Trade Season Begins – Inside The Rink
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