Jake Guentzel Continues His Strong Season Despite Loss to Florida Panthers

Despite a losing effort on Tuesday to the Florida Panthers, the Pittsburgh Penguins have reason to be optimistic after another elite effort from Jake Guentzel.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have had quite a start to the season. From looking overmatched in their season-opening loss to the Buffalo Sabres, to losing Evgeni Malkin for an extended period, to rebounding to look like one of the NHL’s most dangerous teams, it’s been quite a ride already. Though the team has lost two in a row after their Tuesday loss to the Florida Panthers, it’s not all bad news. Jake Guentzel, given more of an opportunity to shine with Malkin out and the preseason Phil Kessel trade, has taken advantage of his opportunity. Even in Tuesday’s defeat, Guentzel has continued to prove that he deserves credit as a truly elite player.

It’s not as though Guentzel was viewed poorly coming into the season. Fresh off a 76-point campaign that included 40 goals, the upside has been obvious to anyone who has watched him play. The problem has been that, with Malkin and Crosby around, many viewed Guentzel as a product of his environment. Rather than see him as the talented player he is, many assumed Crosby and Malkin did the heavy lifting while he simply benefitted from the lesser attention. As he has shown though, he is just as good with more responsibility.

Throughout the young season, Guentzel has looked like one of the best wingers in the entire NHL. He seems to have developed even more as a passer while continuing to score goals with ease. His seven-game point streak heading into the Penguins recent game against the Vegas Golden Knights is just further proof that he’s putting up the best effort of his young career. Even in a season where Sidney Crosby has been fantastic, it’s Guentzel who leads the team in goals and is just three points behind his superstar teammate.

Still just 25, there’s a legitimate chance that Guentzel isn’t yet done developing as a player. Even in losing efforts, this is a guy that is playing better hockey than the majority of the league. If the Pittsburgh Penguins keep getting efforts like this out of Guentzel, could this season end in another Stanley Cup? Don’t rule it out.