The Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff prospects are significantly hampered by winger Jake Guentzel’s injury, sidelining him for four weeks during a critical period, as the team struggles to secure a playoff spot.
Oh man, talk about bad timing. The Pittsburgh Penguins just got hit hard. On Thursday, they dropped the bombshell that Jake Guentzel is out. He’s on injured reserve with some mystery injury and won’t be back for four weeks.
Guentzel isn’t just any player. He’s a key piece, playing right beside Sidney Crosby on the top line. His stats? Impressive. He’s netted 22 goals, making him second on the team. Plus, he’s tied for first both in assists (30) and points (52). That’s no small feat.
If he’s out for the full month, that’s 14 games he’ll miss. For the Penguins, who are already struggling to keep their playoff dreams alive, this is a nightmare. They’re trailing the Detroit Red Wings by seven points for that last playoff spot in the East. And now, they’ve lost three straight in regulation. Losing Guentzel? It’s like kicking them when they’re down.
The team’s been riding on the backs of its top six forwards, and Guentzel’s been a standout. Without him, even their power play, which hasn’t been great, is going to suffer more.
But here’s where it gets interesting. Guentzel’s expected back on March 7, just a day before the NHL trade deadline. And with him hitting free agency this summer, the Penguins are in a pickle. If their playoff hopes don’t look any better, could we see Guentzel in a different jersey come March 8? General manager Kyle Dubas has got some thinking to do.
