Confirmed Signing with Link: [UTA] F Dylan Guenther signs extension with the Utah Hockey Club (8 years, $7.14M AAV; begins 2025-26)

[Boss Man Hughes]

There is a MASSIVE chance he exceeds it. If he's a 40 goal scorer at literally any point of this contract he's exceeding it - with cap increases this might be the going rate for 30-30 in legit two years

He is easily 40-40. Probably this season. The contract is a steal.

This.most GMs reward past performances and pay accordingly which means in order for that contract to measure up the player needs to maintain the same level of production. Dylan performed like a 5 million dollar player with a ceiling of a 10 million dollar one (inflated accordingly to the rapid rise of the cap). Those are the kinds of risks GMs with confidence in their staff and in themselves will take.

The Coyotes left him in the minore because he would have messed up the tank. In his 1st NHl season he was on a 65 pt pace. Utah knows what they have.

 

[Jared Dunn]

He is easily 40-40. Probably this season. The contract is a steal.

I HIGHLY doubt he gets there this season but in year one of the contract I would not be surprised to see him around 75 points

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

Seems a little early for that kinda pay day. Should age well tho

 

[dracom]

He is easily 40-40. Probably this season. The contract is a steal.

lol how is he easily a 40-40 when he hasn't even hit 30 goals or assists in his 78 games played over two seasons?

 

[AcerComputer]

That’s why I’m kinda surprised he didn’t sign a bridge deal… but then again it would be pretty damn tough to say NO to this contract he just signed at the age of 21

Great contract for the player. But if he put up similar numbers this coming season you would expect the number to be in the same range.

 

[Schemp]

Great contract for the player. But if he put up similar numbers this coming season you would expect the number to be in the same range.

Financial security being front loaded and gave up UFA years in doing so.

 

[Roo]

That’s a lot of money for such a small sample size. It could work out for them, but I’d probably bridge him and pay more later once he proves it.

 

[Schemp]

That’s a lot of money for such a small sample size. It could work out for them, but I’d probably bridge him and pay more later once he proves it.

That's the real gamble, would it be more money? And then you have to take into consideration the prospects coming off their ELCs when Dylan's bridge contract expires. And plus how close to UFA would the bridge contract get you? It makes too much sense to get him extended well past UFA years!

 

[GreatSaveLuongo]

Seems a little early for this kinda pay +1
He's kinda there getting the points, but don't really get a sense of he's dominating or has a very specific strength that he is really good at.
Hopefully he takes the next step and show us more.

 

[Roo]

That's the real gamble, would it be more money? And then you have to take into consideration the prospects coming off their ELCs when Dylan's bridge contract expires. And plus how close to UFA would the bridge contract get you? It makes too much sense to get him extended well past UFA years!

Your bridge deal will end before UFA, so it doesn’t matter how close you are. You get the benefit of time to see who the player really is before committing big $$ and term. You make this deal if you really believe the player will be a consistent 40 goal scorer (or something like that) that would command min $9m+ Aav after the bridge. You’re talking top 10-15 nhl forwards in that case, which is super hard to be confident of in just 45 games last year. Not a gamble id be making, but best of luck to Utah.

 

[Fatass]

Good gamble. If it doesn’t work out then buy him out at 1/3.

 

[seafoam]

I think part of what plays into this contract is having a core of players committed to Utah. The last thing this franchise needs is to be perceived as a developmental unit for the rest of the league.

I am not comparing them to Winnipeg, but after their honeymoon phase, that franchise has unfortunately started to get labeled as a place players do not like going to. They've done a good job at locking in their core, but we did see them have to move McGroarty this summer because for whatever reason he simply didn't want to be there. It's a dangerous snowball effect, especially when it involves unproven prospects.

 

[Half Clapper]

I think part of what plays into this contract is having a core of players committed to Utah. The last thing this franchise needs is to be perceived as a developmental unit for the rest of the league.

I am not comparing them to Winnipeg, but after their honeymoon phase, that franchise has unfortunately started to get labeled as a place players do not like going to. They've done a good job at locking in their core, but we did see them have to move McGroarty this summer because for whatever reason he simply didn't want to be there. It's a dangerous snowball effect, especially when it involves unproven prospects.

I think Salt Lake is quite a bit nicer of a place to live than Winnipeg...

 

[Dog]

I think part of what plays into this contract is having a core of players committed to Utah. The last thing this franchise needs is to be perceived as a developmental unit for the rest of the league.

I am not comparing them to Winnipeg, but after their honeymoon phase, that franchise has unfortunately started to get labeled as a place players do not like going to. They've done a good job at locking in their core, but we did see them have to move McGroarty this summer because for whatever reason he simply didn't want to be there. It's a dangerous snowball effect, especially when it involves unproven prospects.

I could see some similarity in team if somehow Utah upgrade their goaltending but not location. Swayman would do nicely for their fresh start of team.

 

[seafoam]

I think Salt Lake is quite a bit nicer of a place to live than Winnipeg...

Neither are sexy destinations in all honesty.

 

[Half Clapper]

Neither are sexy destinations in all honesty.

Have you been to SLC? It is a lot nicer place than Winnipeg.

 

[seafoam]

Have you been to SLC? It is a lot nicer place than Winnipeg.

For a hockey player? I’ll see it when I believe it.

 

[Reality Czech]

I get the reason for locking up young talent at what could be a bargain cap hit down the road, but a few of these are absolutely going to burn teams

Hopefully

I love your enthusiasm but this guy hasn't proven to be a 2nd line winger yet, let alone a 1st. You need to pump the brakes a bit man. The kid has barely scored at even strength and went on a hot run last year in garbage time of the NHL season. At times Guenther looks very pedestrian on the ice; including at the World Juniors, World Championships, and in the Memorial Cup.

I think he needs to work on his consistency issues, and rewarding a player this amount of doe early on can alter his work ethic. I think you should earn that amount of money first. I would have preferred this contract to be signed next summer after he at least puts up a 60+ point season.

This is exactly what Bobby Orr said in his autobiography, which I read recently. He's concerned that young guys getting paid so much, so early could take away their hunger and motivation. Not all guys, but some. I guess we're old fashioned guys who think athletes should have to earn their payday rather than getting it too soon because of salary cap strategizing.

 

[byrath]

lol how is he easily a 40-40 when he hasn't even hit 30 goals or assists in his 78 games played over two seasons?

He's obviously opining on what Guenther will do in his prime, but I'm glad you gave yourself a lol

 

[byrath]

Hopefully



This is exactly what Bobby Orr said in his autobiography, which I read recently. He's concerned that young guys getting paid so much, so early could take away their hunger and motivation. Not all guys, but some. I guess we're old fashioned guys who think athletes should have to earn their payday rather than getting it too soon because of salary cap strategizing.

Obviously it would be difficult to get the NHLPA to agree to make restricted free agency any more restricted than it is now, but I'm curious what change(s) you'd make if you were some kind of tyrant commissioner

 

[Reality Czech]

Obviously it would be difficult to get the NHLPA to agree to make restricted free agency any more restricted than it is now, but I'm curious what change(s) you'd make if you were some kind of tyrant commissioner

I dunno what I'd do, but it's easy to see why some sports have tried to limit the amount of money young players can make. Pretty sure baseball has a strict salary structure that forces players to wait a few years before really cashing in. But now that the genie is out of the bottle I doubt owners will be able to put it back in.

I will admit it wouldn't upset me to see Guenther turn into a lazier version of Dubois mixed with present day Byfuglien now that he's basically set for life at the age of 21. That would teach teams a lesson.

 

[Moist ReadOnly]

Why are you so invested in his post? Seems like there are always know it alls on this site that want everyone to know how much they follow hockey. Cool dude, not everyone knows everything about every player in the league. You and others are the ones who made it combative.

I dont know everything about every player in the league

You got it all wrong mann

but i suck at reading too so its all good

 

[Half Clapper]

For a hockey player? I’ll see it when I believe it.

I mean look up winnipeg on google images and then look up salt lake city.

 

[LickTheEnvelope]

I mean if he's a 30 goal scorer average then it's not awful. Could be great in a few years.

 

[waitin425]

This is a good deal. People are sleeping on Guenther because he plays in a small market and is not widely known.

He is a big game player