Cole Guttman and the Reign’s push for the Pacific Division Title
‘He’s an elite player’: Cole Guttman is the force behind the Ontario Reign’s push for the Pacific Division Title
Cole Guttman’s first professional hat trick was perfectly timed. Three goals and one assist later, the Ontario Reign walked away with another two points to keep them in first place atop the pacific division.
“At this point every game matters,” Guttman said after the April 1 win against the Coachella Valley Firebirds. “A bunch of teams are tight [in the standings] right now. Every win is gonna matter, especially coming down the stretch.”
With two games left in the regular season and playoffs in sight, Guttman’s performance with the Reign has been outstanding. Proving he is a big factor in the team’s race to finish with the Pacific Division title.
The Los Angeles Kings signed Guttman to a two-year contract last offseason. The 27-year-old said the organization was exactly what he was looking for in terms of a new place to play.
“It’s a great organization. It’s one I’ve been close to for a while now, being from LA,” Guttman said. “The staff, the management [and] our conversations over summer went in line with what I was looking for and seemed like a good fit.”
Guttman currently boasts 53 points on 24 goals and 29 assists. The forward believes he has played so well because the team plays to his strengths and because he doesn’t try to do too much. A seasoned veteran of the AHL, Guttman knows his game and knows what makes him successful.
“Playing my game, sticking to what I know works,” Guttman explained about what’s worked for him this season. “Obviously, there’s ups and downs throughout the season. Even when you’re down, not trying to do too much and stick to what you know.”
Though there are challenges coming into a new organization such as Guttman not appearing on the scoresheet in the first five games of the season, that changed by the new year. Guttman recorded 12 points in 12 games before being recalled by the Kings in early January. Though he didn’t appear in any games, it gave the Kings cushion when forward Trevor Moore was injured.
Glenn Gawdin has centered a line with Guttman throughout the season. When asked what Gawdin liked about Guttman’s game he was quick to say “pretty much everything.”
Gawdin said he prefers to pass the puck to him because Guttman can do a lot with it. More than anything, Gawdin prefers to let Guttman do his thing on the ice. There’s an ease that comes with playing alongside Guttman.
“He’s an elite player. I think how dynamic he is, what he does with the puck, offensively, how smart he is all over the ice,” Gawdin said. “It’s fun to watch. I’m having a lot of fun playing with him. I’m lucky to have him as a linemate.”
While Guttman received a lot of credit for his play from his teammate, he also shared the Reign play to his strengths. The team is made up of different players who all bring something to the team. Martin Chromiak is at the top of point scorers with Guttman, Andre Lee impressed during the first half of the season that he was named an AHL All-Star, and rookie Kenny Connors has put together a fantastic first year. That combination of distinct skill that can be moved to any line in a game is what Guttman feels works best with his own strengths as a player.
“We play with pace, we play with skill, we play with speed. We got size as well too, Guttman explained. “For me it’s nice because when we switch lines up… everyone can play with anybody. We have a ton of skill and a ton of speed.”
It’s easy to enjoy playing with talented teammates, but Guttman has also enjoys the camaraderie with the team. Guttman said the environment at the rink is always great. The team is also having a lot of fun especially after big wins when the team aims to build off the good energy. All of that makes playing for the team that much more enjoyable for Guttman.
“We have a great time together and it makes it a bit more enjoyable to go to battle with guys who you enjoy hanging out with.”
While Guttman is relishing in his first season with the Kings organization, it came with an added bonus. While he described this signing as “ a dream come true,” Guttman is finally playing closer to home than he ever has before. The former junior King spent last season with the Rockford Ice Hogs and time with the Chicago Blackhawks. Before that, he played his collegiate career with the Denver Pioneers.
He has fond memories of growing up skating on both ice sheets at the Toyota Sports Performance Center. Though his family always made the effort to visit Guttman wherever he played in the past, the ability for his family to see him play more often matters a lot to Guttman. He leaves extra tickets to games for his parents, brother, cousins, and grandparents. It even adds a little more pep to his step when his family is at a game. “There’s a little more juice,” Guttman said.
Ontario currently holds a two point lead over Colorado for first place in the Pacific division. The team is gearing up to finish out the regular season at the top of the division. With the Calder Cup playoffs in sight, the Reign hope to avoid a repeat of last year’s first round exit. A player like Guttman who is putting together another great season could be the key to that.
“A player of [his] caliber can play anywhere and in any league,” Gawdin said of why Guttman has been so successful with the Reign this season. “He’s a guy that has obviously played games and is deserving of being in the NHL.”
“A guy like that [has] the confidence and the skill to excel at this level.”
