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Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Jake Guentzel Signs Entry-Level Contract

By Ryan Ritchie |
Apr 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Tom Kuhnhackl (34) celebrates his goal with the Pens bench against the New York Rangers during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins right wing Tom Kuhnhackl (34) celebrates his goal with the Pens bench against the New York Rangers during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Jake Guentzel Signed His 3-Year Entry-Level Contract on Monday

Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jake Guentzel has officially signed his three-year entry-level contract on Monday after a successful stint with AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

He joined the Baby Pens late in the year after wrapping up his third and final year of NCAA hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

During that stint, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jake Guentzel collected six points in 11 regular season games. He also scored five goals, nine assists (14 points) in 10 postseason contests.

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Originally taken 77th overall (3rd round) back in 2013, the 5’10 170lbs center/winger has a ton of offensive upside.

Like other smaller statured players, Guentzel will need to learn to adapt to the speed/size of the NHL.

Pittsburgh drafted Jake Guentzel from USHL Sioux City after a 73-point campaign back in 2012-13.

He began his NCAA career the next season posting seven goals, 27 assists (34 points) in 37 games as a rookie for Nebraska-Omaha.

He increased his totals in 2014-15 to 14 goals, 25 assists (39 points) helping lead his team to the Frozen Four.

In his final NCAA season, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jake Guentzel scored 19 goals, 27 assists (46 points).

“Talent Analysis” via Hockey’s Future,

Guentzel is an undersized, yet highly skilled forward who possesses a hockey IQ. The biggest knock on him has been his size, but Guentzel possesses the requisite skill, speed, and grit to play a top-nine role in the NHL.

He is a particularly effective player off the rush, and uses his speed and vision to create offensive plays. He will need to add considerable strength before he gets to the point where he can contribute to the NHL level, but he has the skill and hockey sense to one day make an impact.

The son of long-time junior and college coach Mike Guentzel, he projects as a scoring center who is aware in all three zones of the ice.

At a mere 21-years-old, there’s still a lot of room for growth and development for Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Jake Guentzel.

He may need some seasoning in the AHL for a year or two, but the young man could do himself a big favor by hitting the gym hard in the offseason focusing on getting bigger, stronger, and faster.

Next: Mock Draft 5.5: 7 Rounds of Prospect Analysis

While it’s more likely that long-range Guentzel settles in to a secondary third line scoring role, there’s always a possibility he can crack the top six. With the need for emerging young players on entry-level contracts, fingers are crossed that the former third rounder can blossom into a quality NHL player.

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