Lightning Star Jake Guentzel Reveals He Wanted to Sign With Team's Conference Rival

It's been just over a year now since the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Jake Guentzel's rights from the Carolina Hurricanes and signed him to a seven-year, $63 million contract immediately.

Tampa sent a third-round pick to Carolina on June 30, 2024, to make the deal happen.

Jake Guentzel wasted little time showing he was worth the investment, recording one of the top seasons of his career. He scored a career-best 41 goals and contributed 39 assists for 80 points in 80 games.

It was only the second time he's reached the 80-point mark. His 41 goals were second on the team to Brayden Point, while his total output was fourth on the roster.

Playing alongside Tampa's first line with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov, Guentzel excelled. He recorded nine primary assists on Point goals and was also involved in numerous Kucherov setups.

Being able to fit in so easily with two of the league's top forwards provided the Lightning with another trustworthy offensive option.

In the playoffs, Guentzel continued his good form in the first-round series against Florida, posting three goals and three assists in five games. Even though the Lightning bowed out early, his consistency was one of the few bright spots.

Surprisingly, Guentzel conceded on the Cam & Strick podcast that last summer, his preference was to remain with and sign with Carolina, as he was a fan of Rod Brind'Amour's coaching style.

But once Tampa came through with the long-term commitment, he couldn't resist, especially after it appeared the Hurricanes' front office dropped the ball on how they handled the whole situation. Now in his age-31 season, Guentzel is still in his prime.

Though the Lightning might not receive elite production for the entire duration of his contract, they've acquired a proven scorer who can help keep their championship window open for the next few years.