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EDINA, Minn. — Jake Guentzel knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, having done so as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017. Now entering his ninth NHL season, he is looking to do it again with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The forward perceives the Lightning as an ideal match, given their consecutive Cup wins in 2020 and 2021, and their consistent qualification for the Stanley Cup Playoffs over the past seven seasons.

During his appearance at Da Beauty League, a summer league in Minnesota that includes collegiate and NHL players, Guentzel expressed his belief in the winning abilities of the participants. He mentioned their impressive track record and emphasized that he still believes in their potential to achieve victory.

On June 30, the Carolina Hurricanes traded Guentzel to Tampa Bay in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Despite having the opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent, the 29-year-old chose to sign a lucrative seven-year contract worth $63 million ($9 million average annual value) with Tampa Bay on July 1.

Guentzel is familiar with Tampa Bay forward Conor Sheary, having played two seasons with him in Pittsburgh (2016-18), and has spoken with Lightning defenseman and fellow Minnesotan Ryan McDonagh about the culture and team. He also said a number of new teammates have reached out via text to welcome him.

Guentzel is expected to play a top-six role with core forwards Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Brandon Hagel and Anthony Cirelli. All five players are under contract for at least the next three seasons.

Tampa Bay did lose longtime forward and captain Steven Stamkos, who signed a four-year, $32 million contract ($8 million AAV) with the Nashville Predators on July 1.

Guentzel expressed excitement about the team’s abundance of high-end and elite players, emphasizing the incredible opportunity for him and his family to venture into something new. He anticipates an enjoyable, yet distinct and challenging experience that they eagerly anticipate.

Guentzel, who was chosen by Pittsburgh as the 77th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, boasts an impressive record. Over the course of 520 regular-season games with the Hurricanes and Penguins, he has accumulated 491 points, including 227 goals and 264 assists. In addition, he has contributed 67 points, consisting of 38 goals and 29 assists, in 69 playoff games.

In the previous season, he showcased his skills with an impressive total of 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) across 67 regular-season games for both the Hurricanes and Penguins. Notably, he contributed 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) in just 17 games following his trade to Carolina on March 7. Unfortunately, a four-week absence due to an upper-body injury delayed his debut with the Hurricanes until March 12.

In 11 playoff games with the Hurricanes, Guentzel contributed nine points, consisting of four goals and five assists. Unfortunately, the team fell short in the Eastern Conference Second Round, losing to the New York Rangers in a six-game series.

In five games, the eventual-champion Florida Panthers eliminated the Lightning from the first round.

Guentzel expressed his desire to assist his team in their pursuit of winning the Stanley Cup. While he acknowledged that the playoffs take precedence, he plans to contribute by playing his own style of hockey and enjoying the experience. Despite the challenge of playing alongside talented teammates, Guentzel finds joy in the competitive nature of the sport.

He is eager to begin.

Guentzel expressed, “We have a fresh team, a new division, and a wonderful chance ahead.” Reflecting on a challenging previous year marked by injuries and trades, he acknowledged the valuable lessons learned. Anticipating the upcoming season with Tampa, Guentzel eagerly awaits the opportunity to witness the remarkable accomplishments that can be achieved with the abundance of exceptional talent within the team.

As mentioned before, if I stick to my game plan and play hockey in my own style, I’m optimistic that things will fall into place and we can achieve something truly remarkable in that situation.