Guentzel has ankle surgery, out start of season for Penguins

Jake Guentzel will be out to start the 2023-24 season for the Pittsburgh Penguins after having right ankle surgery Aug. 2.

The forward, who will be reevaluated in 12 weeks, had 73 points (36 goals, 37 assists) in 78 games last season, leading the Penguins in goals and finishing third in points behind Sidney Crosby (93) and Evgeni Malkin (83). His 11 power-play goals tied with Malkin and Rickard Rakell for the team lead and his six game-winning goals were second behind Crosby (nine).

"It's in Jake's best interest and it's in the best interest of the team to have Jake at 100 percent," Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas said Monday. "We'll miss him for the first couple games of the year, then he'll be back to the Jake that we know. I think that's the best solution for all of us."

Guentzel has scored at least 20 goals each of the past six seasons; his 159 goals since the 2018-19 season rank tied for 14th in the NHL with Mark Scheifele and Alex DeBrincat.

Selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (No. 77) of the 2013 NHL Draft, Guentzel has 414 points (197 goals, 217 assists) in 453 regular-season games for the Penguins and 58 points (34 goals, 24 assists) in 58 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He won the Cup with the Penguins in 2017.

Pittsburgh was 40-31-11 last season and missed the playoffs after qualifying each of the previous 16 seasons, which was the longest streak in the NHL.

The Penguins open the regular season against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 10.

"I think it's in that third or fourth week of the season where he's projected to be reevaluated and then a decision will be made," Dubas said. "We're hopeful that goes well, of course, but we want to make sure he's 100 percent ready to roll when he comes back. So, I would say around five games is kind of the projected number, but it's medical so you never want to put a lock on that because we have to always do what's right for him.

"When it comes to replacing him, there are no ready-made replacements for Jake. He's one of the better wingers in the NHL and certainly has a great chemistry with [Sidney Crosby], who, you know, they've had great success together."

NHL.com independent correspondent Wes Crosby contributed to this report