Ex-Penguins Star Making Massive Impact With Hurricanes
The Pittsburgh Penguins will have a tough time trying to contain one of their former stars now with the Carolina Hurricanes.
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins were always well aware of Jake Guentzel’s talents as a hockey player, but they didn’t have much choice but to deal him prior to the NHL trade deadline. The highest bidder ended up being Metropolitan Division rival, the Carolina Hurricanes, and it took no time for him to become a difference-maker.
On a team already loaded with talent, Guentzel helps push the Hurricanes over the edge as a true Stanley Cup contender. In just eight games with the Hurricanes, Guentzel has already proven to be worth the price.
Guentzel has scored a pair of goals and a whopping 10 assists for 12 points. His goal-scoring ability is already well known, but the Hurricanes have amplified his playmaking ability.
“I didn’t know he was such a good passer,” Rust said playfully. “That must mean that I can’t score, or he decided to finally show it.”
Guentzel started his Hurricanes tenure on the second line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Martin Necas. He has since been promoted to the first line to play alongside Sebastian Aho and Seth Jarvis.
That trio has already exploded. Aho notched a hat trick against the Washington Capitals, with Guentzel assisting on two of the goals. Jarvis recently saw a six-game goal streak come to an end, and Guentzel helped on five of his seven tallies.
The Hurricanes have gone 6-1-1 with Guentzel in their lineup and enter their last matchup of the year with the Penguins just one point back of the league lead in standings points. With a 45-20-7 record, the Hurricanes have 97 points, one behind the New York Rangers and Vancouver Canucks for most in the NHL.
No one on the Penguins is shocked to learn about Guentzel’s production with the Hurricanes. They are ready for a weird feeling when they see him on the other end of the ice, but they know he’s going to be a pain to play against.
The chemistry between Guentzel and the Hurricanes is already noticeable, and it won’t be easy for the Penguins to slow down.
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