News

Aug 06, 2023

Guentzel has ankle surgery, out start of season for Penguins

Jake Guentzel will be out to start the 2023-24 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins after having right ankle surgery. The forward, who will be reevaluated in 12 weeks, had 73 points (36 goals, 37

Jake Guentzel will be out to start the 2023-24 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins after having right ankle surgery.

The forward, who will be reevaluated in 12 weeks, had 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 78 games last season, leading the Penguins in goals and finishing third in points behind Sidney Crosby (93) and Evgeni Malkin (83). His 11 power-play goals tied with Malkin and Rickard Rakell for the team lead and his six game-winning goals were second behind Crosby (nine).

"As Jake continued to increase the intensity of his preparation for the upcoming season, it was apparent that his ankle injury was not resolving in a way that was satisfactory to he or the Penguins," Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas said Friday. " … It was decided that surgery would be the best way to ensure Jake would be at his best in 2023-24."

Guentzel has scored at least 20 goals each of the past six seasons; his 159 goals since the 2018-19 season rank tied for 14th in the NHL with Mark Scheifele and Alex DeBrincat.

Selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (No. 77) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Guentzel has 414 points (197 goals, 217 assists) in 453 regular-season games for the Penguins and 58 points (34 goals, 24 assists) in 58 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He won the Cup with the Penguins in 2017.

Pittsburgh was 40-31-11 last season and missed the playoffs after qualifying each of the previous 16 seasons, which was the longest streak in the NHL.

The Penguins open the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 10.