Jake Guentzel injury: 3 ways for Penguins to handle leading scorer’s absence

Mar 23, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel (59) in action during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Pittsburgh Penguins at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson. (Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports)

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without their star winger Jake Guentzel for the beginning of the 2023-24 season due to injury. They’ll need to adjust their lineup to absorb his absence.

With one year left on his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, winger Jake Guentzel seemed like a strong candidate for an early extension. Last season, he led his team in goals (36) and was third in total points (73). Guentzel is a speedy, dynamic forward.

Now, the Penguins will start the 2023-24 NHL season without Guentzel. He underwent successful ankle surgery earlier this week and will be reevaluated in 12 weeks. This is bad news for the Penguins, who missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season for the first time in 17 years. The good news is they shouldn’t be without Guentzel for terribly long.

Jake Guentzel underwent successful right ankle surgery.

The surgery was performed on August 2 by Dr. Chris Coetzee at Twin Cities Orthopedics.

Guentzel will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) August 4, 2023

The organization, led by president of hockey operations/general Manager Kyle Dubas, has made some moves this summer to improve the roster following last season’s disappointment. These moves include signing defenseman Ryan Graves and trading for winger Reilly Smith.

How will the Penguins absorb the temporary loss of Guentzel? There are a few ways they can plug the hole and keep things moving until he returns. Here are three ways the Penguins can address Guentzel’s absence.

It’s unusual to suggest that a defenseman take the place of a forward, but Erik Karlsson can make that type of impact. Karlsson wouldn’t literally be able to fill Guentzel’s spot in the lineup. Another winger would need to play on the top line to fill the hole. However, the Penguins would be satisfied with getting less production out of their top-line winger if they had one of the best offensive defensemen in the game in their lineup.

The rumor mill has been buzzing all summer long about the San Jose Sharks trading Karlsson. It’s reportedly between the Penguins and the Carolina Hurricanes in the Karlsson sweepstakes. Penguins stars Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang are in favor of the trade.

The Penguins were already interested in nabbing Karlsson, and the loss of Guentzel for the beginning of the season makes this trade even more necessary. He doesn’t come cheap, though. Dubas would have to maneuver the salary cap in order to make it work.

If the Penguins can pull off this trade, they’d have some breathing room while Guentzel recovers. Karlsson scored 25 goals last season, the most of any defenseman in the NHL, and the third-most of any player on the Sharks. He also contributed a staggering 76 assists, bringing his point total to 101, the most of any player on his team. The Penguins would relish the production from Karlsson.