Watch: Jake Guentzel produced many memorable goals during his time with the Penguins
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Jake Guentzel will go down as one of the most talented players to ever put on a Pittsburgh Penguins sweater.
In 503 games through close to eight full seasons with the Penguins, he scored 219 goals with 247 assists, with his 466 points ranking 11th all-time in franchise history.
Late Thursday night, after the Penguins got thumped at home by Washington, Guentzel was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes for a host of prospects, two conditional draft picks and forward Michael Bunting.
The Omaha, Neb., native arrived in Pittsburgh in the fall of 2016 and made a quick impression, helping the Penguins to the Stanley Cup as a rookie while playing a key role in the regular season and postseason.
Guentzel developed into arguably the greatest winger to play alongside Sidney Crosby, establishing himself as an elite producer offensively over the years.
He was particularly dominant in the playoffs, scoring 34 goals in 58 career games.
Guentzel’s highlight reel is extensive, but below is a look at some of his most memorable goals.
First shift, first shot, first goal
Guentzel made his NHL debut Nov. 21, 2016, against the New York Rangers. Only 1 minute, 2 seconds into the game, on his first shift, Guentzel’s first NHL shot beat Antti Raanta through the five hole.
Guentzel ended the period with another goal, wrapping a two-goal first game with the Penguins. Both scores were assisted by Phil Kessel.
Playoff hat trick vs. Columbus
After the Penguins opened the 2016-17 postseason with a first-round series vs. Columbus, Guentzel did not wait long to make an impact, scoring his first career playoff goal in Game 2.
But in Game 3 on the road, Guentzel fully dominated, scoring a hat trick in an eventual 5-4 overtime win which put them up 3-1 in the series.
The Penguins went on to dispatch the Blue Jackets in five games.
Stanley Cup debut
Guentzel had a quiet 2017 Eastern Conference Finals series vs. the Ottawa Senators, which the Penguins won in seven games, recording a pair of assists but no goals.
In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup, he quickly ended his goal drought, netting the game-winner late in the third period at PPG Paints Arena to lift the Penguins to a 4-3 win over Nashville.
Two goals in Game 2
In Game 2 of the 2017 Stanley Cup. Guentzel quickly matched his heroics from Game 1, scoring two goals against the Predators in the 4-1 Penguins win.
He’d later score a goal in Game 3, his fourth and final before the Penguins went on to win the series in six games.
Natural hat trick to eliminate Flyers
As it would turn out, the Penguins as a team never matched the playoff success Guentzel experienced as a rookie in 2017.
But Guentzel’s individual postseason performances certainly did not tail off, even if his club hasn’t made a deep run since.
In 2018, the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins faced Philadelphia in the opening round.
The Penguins went on to beat the Flyers in six games, with Guentzel’s memorable four-goal contribution in the decisive Game 6 helping to send his club’s cross-state rival home in a wild 8-5 win.
40-goal scorer
Through the first 12 years of Crosby’s NHL career, no linemate of his had reached the 40-goal plateau.
That changed on April 6, 2019, when Guentzel netted his 40th of the year in the Penguins’ regular-season finale against the Rangers.
Fittingly, Crosby assisted on the goal, giving him 100 points on the year.
Final playoff series
As it would turn out, the Penguins’ first-round series loss to the Rangers in 2022 proved to be the final postseason action Guentzel experienced in Pittsburgh.
The following season, the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06, with Guentzel departing Pittsburgh before the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign.
Looking back at that series in 2022, which the Penguins dropped in seven games, despite leading 3-1, Guentzel did much to try to lead his team to victory.
In seven games, he contributed eight goals and an assist, scoring in every game save for one.
His final playoff goal in Game 7 was one to remember.
Final goal with the Penguins
Guentzel’s final goal in a Penguins uniform came Jan. 27 against Montreal.
Crosby and Marcus Pettersson notched assists.
Less than three weeks later, Guentzel was placed on long-term injured reserve, where he remained before eventually being traded to Carolina.