Jake Guentzel Bio
Jake Allen Guentzel is an American professional ice hockey left winger who plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 77th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, he won the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2017. After a successful run with the Penguins and a short stint with the Carolina Hurricanes, Guentzel signed a long-term deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024. He is widely recognized as a top-six forward, skilled playmaker, and consistent goal scorer.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 180 pounds, Guentzel combines hockey smarts with scoring touch. He is also an alternate captain for the Tampa Bay Lightning and a United States international representative.
Early Life and Background
Jake Allen Guentzel was born on October 6, 1994, in Omaha, Nebraska, and grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota. He comes from a family deeply rooted in ice hockey, and his early years were shaped by the sport. His father, Mike Guentzel, was a standout athlete at Greenway High School in Coleraine, Minnesota, and went on to play hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Mike later became the associate head coach at the University of Minnesota.
As a child, Guentzel served as a stick boy for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was around the program when future Pittsburgh teammate Phil Kessel played there. He played two years of varsity hockey at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, Minnesota, helping the team finish as runners-up in the 2012 Minnesota State Hockey Tournament.
Guentzel has two older brothers, Ryan and Gabe, who also played hockey at high levels. Ryan played collegiately and professionally, while Gabe competed in the North American Hockey League and the United States Hockey League before a four-year NCAA career at Colorado College. The family’s deep hockey roots gave Jake a strong foundation and a clear path into the competitive world of the sport.
Path to Hockey
Following high school, Guentzel joined the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for the 2012–13 season. He recorded 29 goals and 44 assists for 73 points in 60 games, finishing sixth overall in league scoring. His performance earned him the USHL Rookie of the Year award, a place on the USHL All-Rookie Team, and a selection to the USHL Second All-Star Team.
Guentzel committed to the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) for the 2013–14 season, joining the Omaha Mavericks of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In his freshman year, he was named to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Academic All-Conference Team, the NCHC All-Conference Rookie Team, and was a finalist for NCHC Rookie of the Year. He recorded seven goals and 34 points in 37 games.
In his sophomore year, Guentzel helped lead the Mavericks to their first appearance in the Frozen Four, scoring the team’s only goal in a loss to the Providence Friars. As a junior, he was named co-captain and finished as the team’s leading scorer for the second straight season. He chose to forgo his senior year and turn professional.
Jake Guentzel Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Guentzel signed an amateur tryout contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, in March 2016. He recorded two goals and six points in 11 regular-season games and added five goals and 14 points in 10 playoff games, leading the team in postseason scoring. On May 23, 2016, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with Pittsburgh.
He began the 2016–17 season in the AHL but was recalled in November 2016 after an injury to Chris Kunitz. Guentzel made his NHL debut on November 21 against the New York Rangers, scoring two goals on his first two shots. He finished the season with Pittsburgh, tallying 16 goals and 33 points in 40 NHL games, and was later selected for the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic.
Pittsburgh Penguins Breakthrough (2017–2024)
Guentzel’s postseason debut in 2017 was historic. On April 16, he scored a hat-trick, including the overtime game-winner against the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming the first Penguins rookie to record a playoff hat-trick. He helped Pittsburgh win the 2017 Stanley Cup, posting 21 points in the playoffs, tying the NHL rookie postseason record, with 13 goals, one short of the all-time rookie mark.
In 2017–18, Guentzel posted a career-high 48 points in 82 games and recorded four goals in an 8–5 playoff win over the Philadelphia Flyers, joining Mario Lemieux and Kevin Stevens as the only Penguins players to score four goals in a playoff game. The Penguins were eliminated by the Washington Capitals in the next round.
The 2018–19 season was the final year of Guentzel’s entry-level contract. He recorded his first regular-season hat trick on November 24, 2018, against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and a second against the Anaheim Ducks on January 11, 2019, the first hat trick by a Penguins player against Anaheim. On December 27, 2018, he signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension. He finished with 40 goals and 76 points in 82 games.
The 2019–20 season saw Guentzel selected to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game, and he recorded his 200th career point on December 30, 2019. A shoulder injury required surgery, but he returned for the pandemic-delayed playoffs, where Pittsburgh was upset by the Montreal Canadiens. The 2020–21 shortened season saw Guentzel post 23 goals and 57 points in 56 games.
In 2021–22, Guentzel recorded a 13-game point streak and finished with another 40-goal campaign, capped by a hat trick against the Boston Bruins. In 2022–23, he posted 36 goals and 73 points in 78 games, but Pittsburgh missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2024–Present)
On March 7, 2024, the Penguins traded Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes. He made his Carolina debut on March 12 and scored his first goal with the Hurricanes on March 17 against the Ottawa Senators. In 25 regular-season games, he tallied eight goals and 17 points, and added four goals and nine points in 11 playoff games before Carolina was eliminated by the New York Rangers in the second round.
On June 30, 2024, unable to agree on a contract extension, Guentzel’s rights were traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for a third-round pick in 2025. That same day, he signed a seven-year, $63 million contract with the Lightning, beginning a new chapter of his career in Tampa Bay.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although he is a hockey player rather than a race car driver, Guentzel is known for his elite hockey sense, accurate shot, and ability to find open ice in tight spaces. He excels in transition, forechecking, and net-front presence, and he has built a strong partnership with centers such as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. His hockey IQ, combined with his quick release and playmaking, makes him a consistent offensive threat in all three zones.
Notable Events and Milestones
Guentzel’s most defining moment came in the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when his 13 goals and 21 points led the Penguins to a championship. He became the first rookie in Penguins history to score a playoff hat-trick and only the second NHL rookie to record a hat trick and overtime goal in the same playoff game. He has recorded multiple regular-season and playoff hat tricks throughout his career, including 40-goal seasons in 2018–19 and 2021–22, and was named to the 2020 NHL All-Star Game.
Jake Guentzel Career Wins
Jake Guentzel has built a strong resume of wins and accomplishments across junior, collegiate, and professional hockey, most notably winning the 2017 Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Stanley Cup Highlights
Guentzel was a key contributor to the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 2017 Stanley Cup championship, recording 13 goals and 21 points in 25 playoff games, tying the NHL rookie record for points in a single postseason. He scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 1 of the first round against the Columbus Blue Jackets and added a hat trick earlier in the series. He later helped the Carolina Hurricanes reach the 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Guentzel led the Sioux City Musketeers to the USHL playoffs in 2012–13 and earned USHL Rookie of the Year honors. In college, he guided the Omaha Mavericks to their first Frozen Four appearance in 2014–15. In the NHL, he was part of multiple playoff runs with the Penguins, including appearances in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Jake Guentzel Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Guentzel comes from a strong hockey family. His father, Mike Guentzel, played college hockey at the University of Minnesota and later became the associate head coach there. His older brother Ryan played collegiately and professionally, while another brother, Gabe, played in the North American Hockey League and the USHL before a four-year NCAA career at Colorado College. The family’s deep ties to the sport shaped Jake’s development from an early age.
Personal Life
Guentzel married his longtime girlfriend, Natalie Johnson, on July 30, 2021. The couple has one son. He grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota, and remains connected to his family and Midwestern roots.
2025 Season Performance
Guentzel began his first full season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2024–25, following his trade from Carolina and his seven-year, $63 million contract signed in June 2024. He quickly became a key contributor on the Lightning’s top-six forward group, providing scoring touch and two-way responsibility. As an alternate captain, he played a leadership role alongside established veterans.
During the 2025 calendar year, Guentzel also represented the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off, recording three goals and an assist in the tournament. He helped the Americans reach the final, where they fell to Canada 3–2 in overtime.
Looking ahead, Guentzel was named to Team USA’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics, where he went on to win a gold medal. With a long-term contract running through 2031, his outlook in Tampa Bay remains strong, and he is expected to remain a central figure in the Lightning’s push for another Stanley Cup.
