Jake Guentzel
A clutch playoff performer who rose from a third-round pick to become the linchpin of a championship-winning Pittsburgh Penguins offense.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: October 6·Millennials
Biography
Jake Guentzel's path to the NHL wasn't a straight shot of can't-miss talent. Drafted in the third round by Pittsburgh in 2013, the Nebraska-born winger honed his game at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, developing a reputation for hockey intelligence and a knack for being in the right place. His arrival in the NHL during the 2016-17 season was less a debut and more an immediate takeover; he didn't just join the Penguins, he turbocharged their playoff run. Guentzel's uncanny chemistry with Sidney Crosby became the stuff of highlight reels, as he displayed a poise and scoring touch that belied his rookie status, ultimately lifting the Stanley Cup. His tenure in Pittsburgh solidified him as one of the league's most consistent and dangerous wingers, a player whose slight frame houses a giant competitive engine. A 2024 trade to Carolina and subsequent move to Tampa Bay marked new chapters for a player whose legacy is already defined by big moments on the biggest stages.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jake was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Jake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017 as a rookie.
- Recorded 21 points in 25 playoff games during the Penguins' 2017 championship run.
- Scored a career-high 40 goals in the 2021-22 NHL season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
- Represented the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.
Did You Know?
His father, Mike Guentzel, was an assistant coach for the University of Minnesota men's hockey team.
He played college hockey at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, not a traditional hockey powerhouse.
He scored two goals in his NHL debut against the New York Rangers in November 2016.
He and Sidney Crosby were linemates for much of his tenure in Pittsburgh.
“You just try to get to the net and find those soft areas.”
