It was an upper-body injury that kept Jake Guentzel out of the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for a few weeks, but nothing serious.
Right?
The Athletic’s Michael Russo recently did a feature story on Guentzel and the Carolina Hurricanes’ run in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The story contained a couple of nuggets that might specifically interest Penguins fans, including the severity of Guentzel’s injury.
Russo reported:
“Guentzel broke some ribs, and his oblique muscle ripped right off the bone.”
Ouch. You can read the full story here.
Many Penguins fans have held hope that Guentzel, 29, would return to the Team on July 1, when he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent. It would be the ultimate heist, with the Penguins receiving a few prospects and draft picks and eventually Guentzel skating in the same spot he spent the first seven years of his career, beside Sidney Crosby.
Such a reunion is unlikely as Penguins president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas admittedly strives to make the team younger, and Guentzel will be 30 next season. In addition to the two sides going in different directions, Guentzel seems to be adapting quite well to Carolina and the situation.
The Penguins trade was, in all probability, the end of the line for Guentzel in Pittsburgh. And if you’re curious, AFP Analytics’s recent calculations projected Guentzel’s next contract to be six years with an average annual value of $8 million.
He scored just one goal in the five-game opening-round victory over the New York Islanders, but he had been a scoring machine since donning a Hurricanes sweater.
The left-winger had 25 points (8-17-25) in just 17 games with Carolina, proving once and for all that he’s hardly dependent on Crosby for offense.
And he seems pretty happy.
“Look at this place … The weather’s great, the team’s great. Great players. A great coach, and we play a style where there’s no ice, no room when you play us,” said Guentzel to Russo.
“The city’s great, the fans are amazing. This is a great hockey place. What’s not to like?”
More must-reads:
The Dallas Stars brought in right wing Mikko Rantanen from the Carolina Hurricanes at the trade deadline. Prior to Rantanen’s arrival in Carolina, he was a longtime member of the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche host the Stars on Sunday, a game that will be a weird one for Rantanen. “It’s going to be weird, for sure,” Rantanen said via The Athletic. “You spend 9-10 years in one organization, and you get to know the city and then change comes and then you have to go back there and play in the visitors room, so it’s going to be different. But it’s good to see all the players that I got to know over the years. It should be a fun game to play against your old friends.” Rantanen highlighted some of the similarities he sees between the Stars and the Avalanche. He added how he thinks Dallas will be a good fit for him long-term. “They play puck possession, and I think there are similarities between Dallas and Colorado,” Rantanen said. “Like I’ve said many times, I tried my best in Carolina, but one of the reasons was for me to think where I really want to play hockey the next eight years and Dallas was a better fit on the ice. Better style of play for me that’s similar to Colorado, so I think that was one decision to be made.” Stars head coach Pete DeBoer is confident in Rantanen’s ability to thrive with the team. “Guys like that in the prime of their careers just don’t get moved very often and they sure don’t get moved in the division, even though it was a roundabout way,” DeBoer said. “… Those guys just don’t become available and when they do you have to act, and (general manager) Jim Nill did and our owner (R. Thomas Gaglardi).” After things did not go as planned with the Hurricanes, Rantanen‘s fresh slate in Dallas could be exactly what his career needs.
The Las Vegas Raiders dealt with a crazy amount of injuries last season, more than the usual you get every year. It seems like every starter went through at least one injury, and whether they ended up playing through it or not is a different story. This caused an issue. Well, you would think it was an issue, but for teams like the Raiders who weren't very good and really had no shot of making the postseason, it was a good experience, because this allowed young players to be thrown into the fire. Rookies and players who have been in the league for a few years but had little to no experience, got the experience they needed. Guys like rookie cornerbacks Decamerion Richardson and M.J. Devonshire got experience. They got burnt more than they did good, but that helped them learn and get better as the year went on. And guys like safety Isaiah Pola-Mao got to show what they were made of on a full-time basis, rather than just special teams and the occasional defensive rep. And, he showed that he belonged in the league, as a starter, so much so he was rewarded by the NFL in a big way. Raiders' Isaiah Pola-Mao earns big pay day Isaiah Pola-Mao has had a solid NFL career since going undrafted in 2022. He played college football at USC before signing with the Raiders as a free agent. As a rookie, he made the team’s roster and played in 11 games, mostly on special teams, with five tackles. He bounced between the practice squad and active roster that year but showed he could hang in the league. In 2023, Pola-Mao stepped up, playing in 16 games and getting more defensive snaps. He finished with 20 tackles, a sack, and his first NFL interception against the Miami Dolphins. His role grew again in 2024 after starter Marcus Epps got injured early in the season against the Carolina Panthers. Pola-Mao started 14 games, racking up 89 tackles, three sacks, and five passes defended. His best game came against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16, where he had nine tackles and two forced fumbles, earning him AFC Defensive Player of the Week. The Raiders liked what they saw and re-signed him to a two-year, $8.45 million deal. But, that's not even the big pay day I'm referring to. The NFL released their Performance-Based Pay, which is exactly what it sounds like, guys who outperform what they're expected to do and get rewarded for it, and Pola-Mao ended up earning an additional $855,935 thousand. And, he deserves every bit of it.
The Golden State Warriors have long been renowned for their ability to identify and develop elite shooters, from Stephen Curry to, in the past, Klay Thompson. This season, Moses Moody has emerged as a reliable perimeter threat, shooting 39% from beyond the arc, while the acquisition of Buddy Hield has only bolstered Golden State’s deep-shooting arsenal. However, down in the G League, the franchise may be quietly cultivating its next sharpshooter. Rookie Blake Hinson has turned heads with the Santa Cruz Warriors, building on a strong collegiate career at Ole Miss and Pittsburgh, where he set a school record for the Panthers with 110 three-pointers in a single season. The 25-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the premier long-range marksmen in the G League. After a relatively slow start in the Tip-Off Tournament, Hinson has found his stride in the regular season. Through 26 games, he is averaging 18.8 points and 4.7 rebounds while shooting 44% from the field. Over the past month, however, he has taken his game to another level. On Feb. 13, he tallied a career-high 42 points, 11 rebounds and eight three-pointers in a win over the Stockton Kings. More recently, on March 12, he poured in 37 points on 6-of-9 shooting from deep — just days after a 34-point outing. Through February and March, Hinson is averaging 25.2 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting a scorching 39.3% from three. His consistency has placed him atop the G League leaderboard in three-pointers made (93), while his 488 total points rank seventh in the league. At 6-foot-8, the Santa Cruz forward possesses a solid blend of size and shooting ability, making him an intriguing prospect. His versatility to play multiple positions aligns well with Golden State’s offensive philosophy, and his efficiency from deep mirrors the Warriors' emphasis on perimeter shooting. After going undrafted in 2024, Hinson signed a two-way deal with the Los Angeles Lakers but was waived before the season. He later joined the Warriors on an Exhibit 10 contract before being released and landing in Santa Cruz on a standard G League deal. Notably, he is not on assignment from Golden State or signed to a two-way contract, meaning any NBA team can call him up at any time. With his scoring prowess and three-point efficiency, Hinson may not stay in the G League for long. Whether the Warriors act quickly to secure his future or risk losing him to another team remains to be seen.
The NFL free agency period has begun, but a couple of major names at the quarterback position have yet to find a home. While Sam Darnold has inked a deal with the Seattle Seahawks and Justin Fields took his talents to the New York Jets, two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks are still available, Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Wilson spent the last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers while Rodgers spent the last two seasons with the New York Jets. As Rodgers looks to play for his third team at 41 years old, a recent article links the former Jets quarterback to one team: the Pittsburgh Steelers. In this scenario, Rodgers would replace Wilson and get to play alongside a wide receiver corps with DK Metcalf and George Pickens. USA Today writer Nick Brinkerhoff shared his Steelers prediction in one of the site's latest free agent articles. He also explained that retirement could be a possibility for the future Hall of Famer quarterback. Last season, Rodgers recorded 28 touchdowns and 3,897 yards with a 63.0 completion percentage, leading the Jets to a 5-12 record. He would be joining a Steelers organization that hasn't had a losing season under head coach Mike Tomlin, spanning nearly two decades. Pittsburgh capped off the season with a 10-8 record, including a playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens. While the Steelers had quality quarterback play last season, under the leadership of Wilson, the addition of Rodgers may push Pittsburgh to a deeper run in the postseason.
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