Great News For Penguins & Jake Guentzel

The Pittsburgh Penguins got some very good news for their chances at an even better start to the 2023-24 season. It was revealed by head coach Mike Sullivan that Jake Guentzel would participate in the Penguins' season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Mike Sullivan says Jake Guentzel will play tonight

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 10, 2023

Guentzel was initially expected to miss the first five games of the season and there be a big hole left in the top-six. He had ankle surgery at the beginning of August and has been working hard on a return. He is a very important piece in Pittsburgh and the team has a much better shot at making the playoffs with him playing all 82 games than not.

Guentzel will slot back in on the top line beside Sidney Crosby and Rickard Rakell as well as take up his spot on the top power-play unit. The 29-year-old has hit 40 goals twice in his seven-year career and is coming off of 36 goals and 73 points in 78 games. For a winger, he has also logged over 20 minutes a game for four consecutive seasons. The Penguins are fortunate to have him back ahead of schedule for the start of the season.

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