Jake Guentzel Close to Re-Signing with Carolina, EIGHT-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes have invested quite a bit into former Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel. First, they gave up the 44th overall pick with a trio of prospects and forward Michael Bunting to acquire him from the Penguins. Now, it appears they will deliver a max-term contract with a substantial raise over his current deal.

On the Pat McAfee ESPN show, Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman said Carolina is about to sign Guentzel to an eight-year, $64 million contract.

“Sometime this morning or last night, Guentzel had an ask for Carolina. I have not confirmed, but I believe it’s eight times eight,” Friedman said on the show. “And I think the Hurricanes have said to him, ‘We will do that. We will do that contract,’ and at this point in time, we’re waiting to see if it gets hammered out.”

Guentzel, 29, scored 30 goals with 77 points last season. He played 50 games for the Penguins before the March trade. In 17 games with Carolina, Guentzel scored eight goals and 25 points.

Carolina lost to the New York Rangers in six games in Round Two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but they were widely seen as “goalied” because New York goalie Igor Shesterkin robbed them of a few games, despite Carolina outplaying New York.

Guentzel was the Penguins’ third-round pick in 2013 and attended the University of Nebraska Omaha. He made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season. He played 40 regular season games before breaking through with a playoff hat trick and first-line duty with Sidney Crosby as the Penguins won the second of back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Guentzel played eight seasons with the Penguins. He appeared in 503 games, scoring 219 goals and 466 points, mostly beside Crosby. He also played in 58 playoff games, scoring 58 points (34-24-58).

Of course, the Carolina contract would officially close the door on the hopes of many Penguins fans that Guentzel would return to his hockey home to play the left wing with Crosby. In addition to the 44th overall pick, the Penguins received prospects Vasily Ponomarev, Villie Koivunen, and Cruz Lucious.

“The belief is that Jake Guentzel had an ask for Carolina which I believe is 8×8..

I think the Hurricanes have indicated that they will do that contract and now we’re waiting to see if it gets hammered out” ~ @FriedgeHNIC#PMSLive #HockeyIsAwesome pic.twitter.com/KWhFUDzQdf

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) June 28, 2024