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New Tampa Bay Lightning star Jake Guentzel calls out the Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins have been one of the most successful teams in recent NHL history, but it appears as though not everyone is happy with the way things run there.
After a successful stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jake Guentzel was finally traded at the deadline to the Carolina Hurricanes, who ultimately went on to lose in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Then, Guentzel made the surprising decision to sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning in free agency, pulling in a seven-year deal worth $9 million AAV.
Now, shockingly, he has seemingly taken a subtle shot at the Penguins when he was asked why he didn't re-sign in Pittsburgh earlier or return to the team as a free agent.
Jake Guentzel: «My intention was to stay. They thought there was a better direction.»
It's unclear yet exactly what happened behind the scenes in Pittsburgh, but it's become clear that he's not happy with the way things ended, citing the Lightning's recent success and winning opportunities as a reason for his decision.
"They all know how to win," Guentzel told NHL.com's Jessi Pierce on Wednesday. "There's just a winning pedigree there. (And I) still feel like we have a chance to win."
Ultimately, it was just time for both parties to move on, and we likely won't hear much more about the situation moving forward, but this was a surprise move from Guentzel, who has been fairly reserved for the majority of his NHL career.
Source: Hockey Trade Rumors
Jake Guentzel takes a shot at the Pittsburgh Penguins with recent comments
Jake Guentzel takes a shot at the Pittsburgh Penguins with recent comments
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 18 | 195 ANSWERS New Tampa Bay Lightning star Jake Guentzel calls out the Pittsburgh Penguins Which team will go further in the 2024/25 season? | ||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 63 | 32.3 % |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 132 | 67.7 % |
| List of polls | ||