Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reported that Jake Guentzel had hoped to remain with the Pittsburgh Penguins but the team decided to go in a different direction. General Manager Kyle Dubas stated at the trade deadline that there hadn’t been serious contract discussions with Guentzel’s representatives since the previous offseason.
Guentzel expressed his disappointment, stating, “My intention was to stay, but they just thought there was a better direction, to go a different way. And it was out of my hands, so it was not my choice.” He declined to comment further on his future or whether he would consider re-signing with the Penguins.
Responding to Guentzel’s remarks, Dubas acknowledged his right to express his opinion, especially in the Pittsburgh market. He expressed regret that Guentzel’s contract situation had coincided with a challenging period for the team. Dubas stated, “Especially right after a game, competitors like Jake are emotional. He’s entitled to feel how he feels, and I don’t take umbrage at all.”
When questioned about the possibility of a rebuild and drastic changes, Dubas emphasized his focus on addressing both short-term and long-term needs. He acknowledged the difficulty of winning and rebuilding simultaneously but expressed hope that the team wouldn’t reach a point necessitating a full-scale rebuild. Dubas said, “My hope is that we don’t get to that point (of a full-scale rebuild).”
