Dylan Guenther Nearing Eight-Year Extension with Utah Hockey Club
Exciting news is emerging from the Utah Hockey Club, as they are reportedly close to finalizing a massive eight-year contract extension with 21-year-old winger Dylan Guenther. According to Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet, this deal is expected to carry an average annual value of just over $7 million, amounting to at least $56 million over the full term. Once official, it will become the most lucrative contract in the young franchise’s history since they relocated from Arizona, just behind Clayton Keller’s $7.15 million cap hit.
Drafted ninth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2021, Guenther has long been seen as a future cornerstone for the organization, and that hasn’t changed with the team’s move to Utah. However, questions linger about committing such a significant sum to a player who has yet to complete a full NHL season. Guenther has shown flashes of his potential, but an eight-year contract does carry some inherent risk, especially given his limited experience.
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Guenther spent his first post-draft season playing for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the WHL, where he excelled. In 2022-23, he earned a spot on the Coyotes’ opening night roster, contributing six goals and nine assists in 33 games, despite averaging just 13 minutes of ice time per game. By February, the Coyotes opted to return him to juniors, seeing his long-term development as a priority. Last season, though, saw Guenther take a significant leap forward. After initially being assigned to the AHL, he racked up 28 points in 29 games with the Tucson Roadrunners. His performance earned him a midseason call-up, where he produced 35 points in 45 NHL games, with solid possession numbers and an increased role.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Guenther is all but certain to be a regular fixture in Utah’s top six, likely slotting in behind Keller on the second line. But with a high-value contract looming, the pressure will be on him to continue developing into the 70-point player the team hopes he will become. If he does, this deal could turn out to be a bargain, especially as the NHL’s salary cap is expected to rise in the coming years.
An eight-year extension would keep Guenther in Utah through the 2032-33 season, at which point he would become an unrestricted free agent at age 30. While no trade protection can be added until the final few years of the deal, this contract signifies the franchise’s long-term belief in Guenther’s potential.
Now, the question is whether Guenther can live up to the expectations and the paycheck, as all eyes will be on him in the coming seasons to see if he can establish himself as a top-tier winger in the league.
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