Pittsburgh Penguins’ Jake Guentzel Undergoes Ankle Surgery

Jake Guentzel, despite skating recently to warm up for the approaching NHL season, had ankle surgery on August 2. The Pittsburgh Penguins made the announcement on their social media platforms, adding that the forward will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks.

The NHL season is still a couple of months away, but check out our Pittsburgh Penguins off-season analysis.

Penguins’ Jake Guentzel has Surgery, Will Miss Games

Given the timeline that the team has set for Guentzel’s potential return to the lineup, it’s clear that the two-time All-Star will miss at least some games in 2023-2024. If all goes well, he will lace up in late October, a few weeks after the season commenced. Only time will tell how this plays out exactly.

Kyle Dubas, who serves as the club’s GM this year, spoke for the team on social media this week.

“As Jake 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.”

The 2013 third-round draft pick played in 78 games last season, scoring 36 goals and 37 assists. He also played in the second All-Star Game of his career.

For the first time since the 2006 offseason, the Penguins are a club hoping to return to the playoffs after missing them the previous year.  The clock is ticking on Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin’s time with the organization. There is always some reason for hope with them around, but missing the younger generation like Guentzel makes the quest for another run all the more challenging.