Sullivan put Guentzel with Crosby because of his hockey sense and competitiveness. The son of a coach, the younger brother of two hockey players, Guentzel grew up learning the game and battling with bigger players. He can think the game at a high level and isn't afraid to go to the hard areas.
"He makes plays, he has poise with the puck, he doesn't throw the puck away and he wants to play with the puck, and I think that's complementary to Sid because Sid's the same way," Sullivan said. "He plays that give-and-go game down low and he sees the ice very well. He can make plays off the rush. So there's lots of aspects of Jake's game that we really like that led us to trying that combination with Sid, and it's worked pretty well for us."
Guentzel has scored in a variety of ways, including on the power play, on the rush and into an empty net. But perhaps the best example came in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
In overtime, Crosby was buzzing below the goal line, his signature. Guentzel slipped into an opening in front of the net and lifted the stick of Blue Jackets forward Cam Atkinson so his stick would be free. When Crosby backhanded a pass in front, Guentzel was in position to score. He completed a hat trick and gave the Penguins a 5-4 victory.
"Obviously Crosby's a superstar," Ciccarelli said. "My mindset would be, and I'm sure it is for this young kid [Guentzel] who's doing a great job, 'Listen, you're playing with one of the top players in the world. Management's giving you that opportunity.'
"I'm sure he's preparing himself, and on the ice, if it was me, I'm sure he's thinking the same thing. You're going to get chances playing with Crosby, playing on that line. Just find the holes. Get to the open spots by the net and you're going to be rewarded. Crosby's attracting a lot of attention, which means there's going to be space open. Find the holes."