Jake Guentzel has signed a new contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Not bad for a stick boy.

Guentzel is a great player. I like this deal for him. This isn't a steal however it's not an overpay.

Yup good deal. I think they were wise to get this out the way now. I just hope he doesn't get his money and disappear now.

He's played awesome in the playoffs. He might produce more in Pittsburgh playing with Crosby than he would anywhere else but then again its not like Crosby's going anywhere anytime soon so they should be good for those 5 years.

Smart move by our GM to get this done now so that it didn't create a distraction for the team. Jake is a first class player and person and defines what it takes to be a Professional Athlete in the City of Pittsburgh. Works hard, doesn't complain, and produces in the playoffs (right now everything opposite of the Steelers). Guentzel PRODUCES BIG TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS which means he plays when it matters most. He plays along side Sidney and if Sid gives him the approval you must pay the boy. He has great pedigree and is a Minnesota boy who grew up with a hockey stick in his hand. He has not wasted any opportunity that he's been given and he's shined since his first NHL game. Locking him up now makes the most sense and his contract will wrap up when he hits the age of 30 years old (Super Smart). The way his contract is spread out over the term is unique and is the START of something that will happen throughout the league. Great move for the TEAM, PLAYER and THE PENS FANS!!! Congratulations Jake!!!!!

A higher Hit than I was hoping for (by ~500k) but I guess that is the cost of certainty. He lights up in the playoffs again could be a lot higher.

Signs a major deal and doesn’t score a single point tonight what a bust. Ha jk

He’s solid and it would be very hard to critique this signing. It’s fair deal all around. I think he’s worth maybe 5-5.5million but for an extra million or less how could you argue. High hockey iq and preforms when it matters.

If the cap rises to $83M like Bettman has insinuated, then it's hard to really argue about the dollar amount or the term here. However, Guentzel's success as a point scorer is directly linked to the continued success of Crosby on the PIT top line. Also, Guentzel's playoff success is undeniable. He clearly has the ability to raise his game when the stakes are highest. I'd still look for Rutherford to make another move to add offensive depth so PIT can contend for the Cup once again. Considering how well they play vs. WASH and CBJ it's not a stretch to say PIT could make the Conf. Finals.

I couldn't agree more. He just turned 24 years old! Look at his track record in the playoffs. Look at his comparative contracts as well. Tyler Johnson, Yanni Gourde, Jason Zucker, William Nylander, and Jonathan Drouin...just to name a few. I'd take Guentzel's term and dollar amount over all these guys w/ the possible exception of Nylander, with much emphasis on possible.

Guentzel - $6m per (signed NO drama)
Reg season - 158 GP / 53 G / 114 Points - 0.72 PPG
Playoffs - 37 GP / 23 G / 42 Points - 1.14 PPG

Nylander - $7m per (Baby mama Drama)
Reg season - 194 GP / 48 G / 136 Points - 0.70 PPG
Playoffs - 13 GP / 2 G / 8 Points - 0.61 PPG

Nylander held the Leafs hostage and won bug b/c Dubas was in an impossible spot. If Nylander doesn't have a big second half his trade value will be significantly less than it was before he signed the extension. He's nowhere near Marner and Matthews, yet he thought he should be paid huge money. They probably should've traded him for a Defenseman when his stock was super high.

I agree with u. I think Nylander is a great player but Marner is better and Kapanen is a more versatile dif type of player they could have got cheaper and PLUS got nice assets (D-men) back for Nylander.

Don't get me wrong...,I still think Nylander is excellent. He'll be a top line Forward for many many years in the NHL...Unfortunately, just not in TOR.

was a reasonably fair value, would have liked it to be slightly cheaper to leave a few extra hundred thousand cap room but will certainly take it.

This is such a great comparison. Well done

I didn't like the Nylander contract. It's should have been 6.5m IMO. But I'll disagree with the Leafs were hostage. Leafs could have not agreed to deal If no deal was signed he was still Leafs property till summer of 2023.
Leafs weren't in an impossible spot at all. Most players have a four week training camp, and up to NHL speed after four exhibition games. After a month in the NHL, Nylander is still at summer practice level.
His trade value has fallen if he continues his junior level play. Either way his contract is very tradable next summer when his actual cash payout is 6.14m for five years. IMO he's traded for cap space reasons so the Leafs can sign an veteran Dman. Trouble with trading him earlier, is there were probably no teams that wanted to trade for him, without the certainty of a signed contract.

The Leafs are contenders for the Cup THIS year though. They had to sign him. The pressure was really mounting on Dubas. I agree w/ you that the trade market was smaller b/c of the contract uncertainty, but if Nylander has a below average second half his trade value will be further diminished a little.