The 2024 NHL free agent pool is rather shallow, so when rumors start to emerge that someone is willing to test the waters, it’s worth an investigation into their fit for the offensively anemic Philadelphia Flyers. Jake Guentzel is a 29-year-old left winger with 491 points in 502 career NHL games and has decided he’s in no hurry to re-sign with the Carolina Hurricanes. So should the former Penguin be on their cross-state rival’s radar this summer?
Pros
Culture & Leadership
The Flyers’ front office has put way too much stock in “culture” but there are times like this where, if they intent to adhere to their own logic, that adding a veteran like Guentzel could make sense for the greater good. Guentzel has a Stanley Cup to his résumé and spent eight seasons riding shotgun to Sidney Crosby. He’s undoubtedly got some experience to share with some of the Flyers’ up-and-comers.
A Scoring Winger
Addressing the abysmal offense needs to be considered from all angles, and even if a left wing isn’t high on the priority list typically, if that left winger is capable of scoring goals, it needs to be contemplated. He posted 30 goals and 77 points between the Penguins and Hurricanes in 2023-24, scored 36 goals in 2022-23 and had a career high of 40 in 2021-22. The Flyers have only had one player hit 30 goals in the same span when Travis Konecny eclipsed the plateau during both 2022-23 and 2023-24.
Power Player
During Guentzel’s last three seasons of offensive success, a big reason for that has been his emergence on the powerplay. Of his 234 points in the last three years, 67 of them have come on the man advantage. While it may not be the most prolific pace of all time, it’s over double what anyone on the Flyers has produced in the same time.
Cons
His Age
Guentzel will turn 30 in October. He only has 520 NHL games under his belt despite his age, so it’s possible he doesn’t have the normal miles on his body a typical 30-year-old does, but it’s still not a great age regardless when it comes to long-term contracts in the modern day NHL.
The Contract
That whole shallow free agent pool thing we talked about in the intro will surely mean Guentzel’s value will be inflated big time. As of this writing, the futures of fellow UFAs Sam Reinhart and Steven Stamkos are unclear, meaning Guentzel is probably the top available player heading into the offseason. It’s more than likely why he’s testing the free agent waters in the first place- to see just how crazy the highest bid can go.
…He’s a Winger
Despite the fact that the Flyers need help scoring, it coming in the form of a LW isn’t super ideal. Now, the Flyers don’t have many natural left wings, as it is typically the overflow position for their copious number of right wingers instead, so maybe it wouldn’t be all bad, but a center upgrade should still be priority number one this summer.
Conclusion
The Flyers may have an overabundance of wingers that should ultimately keep Guentzel away, but they’re also in no position to turn down an upgrade, wherever they may show up.
The biggest reason Guentzel is heading to free agency is more than likely about the money. He’s the biggest fish in a very small pond, and that should secure him quite the bag somewhere in the league if he isn’t going to be too picky about the team he ends up on.
Does that mean that the Flyers could have a chance at snagging him? Sure. If they want to break out the check book, it’s not impossible they money talks, but they’ve got some cap problems of their own and this just isn’t the guy to empty the bank account on.
He doesn’t even feel like a player on the Flyers’ radar at the moment, and they more than likely won’t even do their due diligence to check in with the player. There are a few reasons to at least consider Guentzel for the Flyers, but the pros just don’t outweigh the cons this time.
By: Dan Esche (@DanTheFlyeraFan)
photo credit: nhl.com
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