FILE - Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Jake Guentzel (59) in the second period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Denver. Guentzel underwent right ankle surgery on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, and will miss at least three months. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel is out at least three months after undergoing right ankle surgery.
Penguins general manager/president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas said Guentzel had the surgery on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Guentzel had been dealing with a lingering ankle issue during the offseason.
“As Jake continued to increase the intensity of his preparation for the upcoming season, it was apparent that his ankle injury was not resolving in a way that was satisfactory to he or the Penguins,” Dubas said Friday in a statement.
Guentzel, an All-Star in 2022, has thrived since arriving in Pittsburgh in the latter stages of the 2016-17 season. Playing primarily alongside Sidney Crosby, Guentzel has scored 197 goals to go with 217 assists in 453 career games.
Dubas said Guentzel will be reevaluated in 12 weeks, meaning he will miss at least the start of the 2023-24 season, which begins on Oct. 10 when Pittsburgh hosts Chicago.
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