Penguins Claim Rugged Defenseman John Ludvig

The Penguins put in a waiver claim today. A surprising one at that.

GM Kyle Dubas plucked 23-year-old defenseman John Ludvig off the Florida Panthers. It’s the type of player the native Czechian is that threw me for a loop.

A genuine, hard-as-nails, drop-the-gloves, physical defenseman.

I know. Somebody must’ve made a mistake somewhere.

“There is an edge to his game, a physicality to his game that we can’t really find in practices,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, while perhaps explaining the rugged defender’s availability. “It has to be found in real games against real opponents.”

The sturdy 6’1” 213-pounder is far from a one-trick pony. A former third-round pick, he notched 17 goals and 62 points in his final year of junior with Mike Johnston’s Portland Winterhawks. Last season he put up solid numbers with the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL, tallying three goals and 17 points in 54 games, along with a plus-18 and 72 penalty minutes. His metrics were strong as well.

With the likes of body-banging forward Jagger Joshua and now Ludvig in the fold, the Pens are beginning to stockpile young players who provide an honest-to-goodness physical presence.

I, for one, am thrilled.

Big Z, Others Clear Waivers

All of the five Pens placed on waivers yesterday…Mark Friedman, Magnus Hellberg, Vinnie Hinostroza, Colin White and last but certainly not least, Radim Zohorna…have cleared waivers and can be assigned to the Baby Pens if we elect to do so.

Still no official word on the status of PTO invitees Libor Hajek, Mark Pysyk and Austin Wagner.