The Tampa Bay Lightning made multiple additions this off-season, but none was more significant than Jake Guentzel. After acquiring his signing rights from the Carolina Hurricanes, the Lightning quickly signed Guentzel to a seven-year, $63 million contract. Now, Guentzel is set to be a long-term part of the Lightning's core.
However, the Lightning were not the only team heavily interested in Guentzel. In his most recent 32 Thoughts column, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman revealed that the Chicago Blackhawks also had a high interest in Guentzel before he ended up in Tampa.
Hearing that the Blackhawks were in on Guentzel is understandable. While they are rebuilding, Guentzel would have been a fantastic sniper for the Blackhawks to have play on a line with rising superstar Connor Bedard. However, in the end, Guentzel ended up in Tampa, much to the joy of Lightning fans.
Guentzel will now look to make a significant impact with the Lightning from here. Given how excellent of a player he is, he should have zero trouble doing just that.
In 67 games last season split between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Canes, Guentzel had 30 goals, 77 points, and a plus-25 rating.
