The Pittsburgh Penguins may not get the chance to reunite with one of their former stars.

PITTSBURGH – Jake Guentzel has been a key piece to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization since he arrived at the NHL level in 2016. In the eight years that followed, Guentzel became one of the most consistent goal scorers on the team and an outstanding playoff performer.

The Penguins dealt him to the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline, and speculation quickly picked up that they wouldn’t mind bringing him back in the offseason. Guentzel is expected to become a free agent this summer, and there is no shortage of teams that would love to sign him.

While the Penguins might knock on the door, Guentzel may not answer. The New York Rangers knocked the Hurricanes out of the playoffs, ending their Stanley Cup ambitions, but there is still belief in Carolina.

During his final media availability of the season, Guentzel stated how much he enjoyed the brief time with his new team, and would like to see it continue.

“I loved my experience here. It's a great place to play,” Guentzel said. “We'll see what happens. I just loved my time here, and we're going to see what happens in the next little bit here.”

Guentzel wasn’t with Carolina long, but he was a perfect fit right away. In 17 regular season games, he scored eight goals and 17 assists for 25 total points. He was his typical self in the postseason, putting up nine points in 11 games.

“Those guys [Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov] are just special players,” Guentzel said. “They're so high-end and just the way they control themselves. They're so competitive, and that's what makes them the best. For me, you're just playing with good players, and you try to make the most of it.”

Guentzel stated that his focusing on his family will play a role in where he decides to play hockey next. Whether it be in Carolina or elsewhere in the NHL, he will look for a long-term deal.

“Hopefully, you can kind of get some stability and be able to sign here long-term.”

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