Penguins GM Responds to Jake Guentzel's Comments

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PITTSBURGH – For the better part of eight seasons, Jake Guentzel was one of the best and most consistent goal scorers in the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup. Heading into the 2023-24 season, he and Penguins president and general manager Kyle Dubas had not opened official conversations about a contract extension as Guentzel was in his final year.

As the trade deadline approached, it became increasingly clear that Guentzel would be traded. The night before deadline day, Guentzel was dealt to the Carolina Hurricanes for Michael Bunting and a handful of quality prospects.

Guentzel recently returned to Pittsburgh as a member of the Hurricanes and spoke about his thoughts and emotions about the Penguins.

“My intention was to stay. They thought there was a better direction.”

Mark Madden asked Dubas to respond to Guentzel’s comment on his radio show.

“Jake’s entitled to his opinion and has earned the right, especially in this market, to give his opinion,” Dubas said. “What I would say is, my hope going into the year is that everything would go to the most optimistic viewpoint.”

Dubas said that since the Penguins are struggling to look like Stanley Cup contenders, he felt moving Guentzel was the smart move.

“That would dictate the decision-making differently than it did,” Dubas said. “I’m sorry that it ended up being Jake as the one whos contract was up at that time. Do you wish it wasn’t Jake? Of course.”

Dubas stated earlier in the season that he was waiting for the right time to open extension talks with Guentzel. Clearly, the Penguins sit well outside the playoffs and never looked like a real playoff team, so the timing never lined up.

Dubas also noted that Guentzel’s words may have been accompanied by added emotion. The Penguins had just stunned the Hurricanes in a 4-1 win that prevented them from clinching a playoff spot that night.

“Especially right after a game,” Dubas said. “Competitors like Jake are emotional. He’s entitled to feel how he feels, and I don’t take any umbrage with that at all.”

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