Can the Pittsburgh Penguins bounce back without Jake Guentzel?
By Jim Lynch
The Pittsburgh Penguins have always been a team that can overcome adversity. No matter who gets hurt or what happens they always find a way to get things done, but this latest injury to Jake Guentzel might prove costly.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are shorthanded. Sidney Crosby is out with an injury, Justin Schultz is out, and so many other Pens are hurt. Yet the team continues to find ways to win games. One big reason for that is Jake Guentzel who has been the leader for the team.
Yes, Pittsburgh is known for Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but Guentzel has been the Pens one player who has stood out this season. Guentzel has 43 points this season in 39 games, however, his season is now over thanks to an injury.
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I hope Guentzel can come back ready to play next season, but now we need to focus on how this team can move forward. The Penguins have always been a team that relied heavily on their stars to help them win. However, no matter how many players fall to injury the Penguins continue to win.
The Pens are in third within the Metropolitan Division and are now without a critical goal scorer in Guentzel. Not only that but when Crosby does come back from injury, he will be without one of his favorite wingers when he does return.
They now have players like Bryan Rust and Alex Galchenyuk to help boast the top six forwards of the Pens. Obviously I would prefer to see Crosby and Guentzel but hey you get what you get.
Many fans have been targeting players the Penguins could trade for in order to recapture some of the magic Guentzel brought to the lineup. Players like Brandon Saad and Chris Kreider topped the list as possible players.
In bringing in Saad the Penguins would gain a winger that has been having one of his best seasons in Chicago, even if the stats don’t prove it. Saad is also a native of Pittsburgh and is signed for a reasonable dollar value at $6 million per year.
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Kreider, on the other hand, is on the final year of his contract with the Rangers and would be a great rental for the team. What do you think the Penguins should do? Trade for a player, or hope that someone within the organization can step up to the plate.