Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel underwent right ankle surgery on Wednesday, the team announced Friday. Here’s what you need to know:
- Guentzel will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks. The 2023-24 NHL season opens on Oct. 10.
- Dr. Chris Coetzee at Twin Cities Orthopedics performed the procedure.
- Guentzel, 28, put up 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 78 games last season.
What they’re saying
Pittsburgh president of hockey operations and general manager Kyle Dubas said that as Guentzel “continued to increase the intensity of his preparation for the upcoming season, it was apparent that his ankle injury was not resolving in a way that was satisfactory to he or the Penguins.” Dubas added: “In collaboration with Jake — his representative Ben Hankinson of Octagon Sports, the Penguins medical team led by Dr. Dharmesh Vyas of UPMC Sports Medicine, and Dr. Coetzee — it was decided that surgery would be the best way to ensure Jake would be at his best in 2023-2024.”
Backstory
The 2017 Stanley Cup champion is entering the final season of a five-year, $30 million contract. Guentzel has played his entire career in Pittsburgh after the Penguins selected him with the 77th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Jerome Miron / USA Today)
