Jake Guentzel buries the Pittsburgh Penguins once again in new interview
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Samer Dagher
Sep 27, 2024 (8:51 PM)
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Photo credit: The Hockey News
Jake Guentzel hasn't held back from trashing his former team since leaving & now he's taken more shots at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
At the 2024 trade deadline the Pens made a huge decision trading Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes in the last hours. Guentzel, who had been a key player for the team and helped them win the Stanley Cup, didn't want to leave.
«Staying in Pittsburgh was always the goal,» he said. «That's very fair to say. I told Hank at the beginning of last year, 'Let's get something done. This is where I want to be.'»
Despite his loyalty after being drafted by the Penguins in 2013, new General Manager Kyle Dubas chose to trade him, which came as a wake-up call for Guentzel.
«You realize that it's a business really fast,» Guentzel said.
The trade didn't just affect Guentzel. Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was also visibly upset and, when asked what message the trade sent.
«I don't know,» Crosby said, visibly upset. «That's probably a better question for them.»
Guentzel has since signed a big contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he'll join stars like Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov in their pursuit of another Stanley Cup. It's unclear why Pittsburgh was so eager to move on from him, especially since he wanted to stay long-term. All eyes will be on him when he returns to Pittsburgh during the regular season.
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