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

[Contenderorpretender]

Wild contract. Great job by his agent, getting the most from very little

 

[Fatass]

Is this serious? If so, this is nuts. What has this player done to get such a contract?

 

[John Mandalorian]

It’s nice to know he will be a Hockey Club for many years.

 

[DingDongCharlie]

I get betting on potential but seems too much too early.

 

[Puckrobber]

Rather pay big for potential at a younger age, than the same amount for a late 20's-early 30's guy who's at, or past, his prime. By then, the contract will be a pain for a team to get rid of.

 

[KPower]

Love it, he’s a stud and will be underpaid for most of this contract.

 

[joestevens29]

Geez maybe he’s that good eventually

Love it, he’s a stud and will be underpaid for most of this contract.

He’ll be lucky to be worth that contract for next 5 yeats

 

[TheLegend]

Contract is heavy up front… lightens up in the last half.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837276613945471342

 

[KPower]

Geez maybe he’s that good eventually


He’ll be lucky to be worth that contract for next 5 yeats

Time will tell.. I think he’s getting 70+ points this season.

 

[Danarqhy]

Crazy contract that I honestly had to double and triple check that it was correct LOL.

The risk with giving young NHL players too much money before they earn it is that it creates too much pressure too early and they stop improving. Look at a guy like Kotkaniemi, dude was very greedy and money hungry and was paid for "potential" then he turned into a total offensive dud and is now an overpaid 4C/3C tweener.

 

[Half Clapper]

Risky contract but this reminds me of when I play be a GM and I lock all my studs up to 8 year deals asap, because I know they get good. If the video game is accurate then this will be a great deal long-term.

 

[CanadienShark]

Well that came from left field. I like him, but that's a huge contract for a guy who hasn't done a whole lot yet.

 

[BKarchitect]

Contract is heavy up front… lightens up in the last half.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1837276613945471342

It’s a smart structure for the team, not that anybody who is complaining about the AAV is really going to dig into. Franchise has plenty of cap and salary space right now just coming out of a full rebuild. In 5-6 years when Guenther is hitting his prime and the franchise a powerhouse, along with more big deals and a raising cap - the actual real money owed to Gunether will be a shockingly good deal.

 

[Maple Leaf]

WHo?

 

[joestevens29]

It’s a smart structure for the team, not that anybody who is complaining about the AAV is really going to dig into. Franchise has plenty of cap and salary space right now just coming out of a full rebuild. In 5-6 years when Guenther is hitting his prime and the franchise a powerhouse, along with more big deals and a raising cap - the actual real money owed to Gunether will be a shockingly good deal.

Oh so at end of deal he might be worth it?

 

[Pierce Hawthorne]

Who?

I'm not kidding, never heard that name once and now he's making +7M?

This really speaks so much more about your(lack of) knowledge then it does who Guenther is.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

I think this is a no brainer move for a team like Utah. Even if he took a step back - salary cap ceilings wont be an issue anytime soon(for Utah). Further, a kid shows a ton of promise and is willing to lock in long term in Utah? Yea thats an easy call.

 

[hamzarocks]

The comp would be Raymond's $8.1M plus cap increase, so they'd be saving ~$1.5M, in theory.

Raymond would be a higher end comp to Guenther

Higher pick/draft pedigree

Higher offensive ceiling and point production expectations, along with higher role on DRW depth chart vs Guenther

More seasons of strong play as Ramond has 3-year sample size with 2 years of 60-70 pt play and another ~50 pt pace year while Guenther would have 1.5 seasons of 60-70 point play

Utah are taking a risk and they could have gotten him at this deal +~500K if he had a full 65-70 pt year. They must really be high on his upside and believe he will improve from his rookie half season

 

[Arizonatah Coyetis]

Anyone that had never heard of Guenther has now. And I think they're going to be hearing a lot more about him throughout the season. He puts up highlight reel goals.

Edit: He'd be much better known if he were drafted by any other team than Arizona.

 

[Schemp]

P

This makes the Raymond deal look like a huge steal

Actually it doesn't. 20 yo Guenther put up 18Gs and 17As in 45 games
Raymond put up 17Gs and 28As in 78 games when he was 20 yo.
Kinda comparable
Guenther's money isn't until after this season for $1M less. Let's see how this season plays out first before making that conclusion.
I find it amusing so many have suggested it's a bad contract. After this upcoming season, his last year on an ELC, it will look like a bargain when it kicks in next year!

 

[HockeyScotty]

I'm a big believer in Guenther but this was a big gamble from Utah at this point. They must really see him blowing up this year and are "buying low". I am guessing that he becomes the focal point of their team and gets heavy offensive zone time and PP1 and they make him and Cooley (if he pops this year) their new cornerstones; slotting Keller-Schmaltz into 2nd line roles (which to be honest is probably a better winning strategy).

It's much more similiar to the Matt Boldy contract and timing (approx. 80 NHL games) and I remember feeling that it was a little too early but he was just popping when he signed it.

However, this deal makes the Byfield one look like a steal.

 

[Canadienna]

I think Guenther is more likely to regret this from a money standpoint than Utah.

 

[Reality Czech]

pay attention more

Who honestly wanted to pay attention to the Coyotes in recent years?

 

[Reality Czech]

Thats fine that you didnt know him - but to make a post saying that, in a thread specifically about him, is only a negative toward him and others who are fans of his

Instead, going on EliteProspects and then saying nothing or something along the lines of 'didnt know who he was but seems he did well last year and lets see if hes worth that money'

Heck, even just saying 'Utah fans, is he worth it?' is sufficient. Really no need to make point to everyone that you didnt know who it was, unless youre going to make it seem friendly instead of combative

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.

 

[Devilsfan118]

Something about the NHL has been broken, where unknowns like this with very little proven success are handed these types of contracts.