Jonathan Gruden

Jonathan Gruden (born May 4, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL).[1]

Jonathan Gruden
Born (2000-05-04) May 4, 2000 (age 24)
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Height6 ft 0[1] in (183 cm)
Weight172[1] lb (78 kg; 12 st 4 lb)
PositionForward
ShootsLeft
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Pittsburgh Penguins
WBS Penguins (AHL)
NHL draft95th overall, 2018
Ottawa Senators
Playing career2020–present

Playing career

edit

Gruden played as a youth in the Michigan area with the Honeybaked under-16 program before he was selected to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program at the under-17 and 18 level, featuring in the United States Hockey League (USHL). In his first year of eligibility, Gruden was selected by the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the fourth round, 95th overall, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.[2]

Committing to a collegiate career with Miami University, Gruden as a freshman in the 2018–19 season, collected just 3 goals and 15 points through 38 games. After just one season with the RedHawks, Gruden left the program and was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on April 3, 2019.[3]

Gruden in preferring to continue his junior development in the major junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL), signed a contract with the London Knights, having been previously selected by the club in the 2016 OHL Priority Draft, 100th overall.[4] In joining the Knights for the 2019–20 season, Gruden was amongst the team's top scorers, finishing with 30 goals and 66 points through only 59 games before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic-shortened 2020–21 season, Gruden was traded by the Senators, along with a 2020 second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for two-time Stanley Cup winning goaltender Matt Murray on October 8, 2020.[5] Gruden was assigned to the Penguins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to begin the 2020–21 season and spent the following season in the AHL as well.[6] Gruden was recalled by Pittsburgh in January 2023 and made his NHL debut in a 4–3 win over the Anaheim Ducks.[6][7] His second game was against the team which drafted him, the Ottawa Senators.[6] He appeared in three games total for the Penguins and was a healthy scratch for four more before being returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 29.[8] On July 17, 2023, Gruden signed a one-year extension with Pittsburgh.[9] Gruden was invited to the 2023 Penguins, but failed to make the team. He was placed on waivers and after going unclaimed, assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.[10] Gruden had a brief call-up (four hours) in November 2023 that did not result in any playing time,[11] and was then returned to the AHL before being recalled on December 8[12] and making his season debut that night for Pittsburgh against the Florida Panthers.[13] Gruden scored his first NHL goal on March 2, 2024, against Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames.[14]

Personal

edit

Gruden is the son of former NHL defenseman John Gruden, who played with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals through his ten-year professional career.[15] John is currently serving as the head coach of the Toronto Marlies.

Career statistics

edit

Regular season and playoffs

edit
Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2016–17U.S. National Development TeamUSHL34671320
2017–18U.S. National Development TeamUSHL2515193420
2018–19Miami UniversityNCHC383121512
2019–20London KnightsOHL5930366623
2020–21Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL32681413
2021–22Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL751017277851236
2022–23Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL5416153154
2022–23Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL30000
2023–24Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL471311244320002
2023–24Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL131015
NHL totals161015

International

edit
YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2016United StatesU175th50112
2018United StatesU18 70444
Junior totals120556

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c "Jonathan Gruden Stats and News". NHL.com. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  2. ^ "Ottawa Senators select Jonathan Gruden 95th overall". silversevensens.com. June 23, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  3. ^ "Senators sign forward Jonathan Gruden to three-year, entry-level contract". Ottawa Senators. April 3, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  4. ^ "Knights sign pair". London Knights. May 3, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Penguins acquire Gruden and 2nd round draft pick for Matt Murray". Pittsburgh Penguins. October 8, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Rorabaugh, Seth (January 19, 2023). "Penguins rookie forward Jonathan Gruden is trying to 'just keep playing'". Trib Live. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  7. ^ Crosby, Wes (January 16, 2023). "Guentzel, Penguins rally late, defeat Ducks in OT". National Hockey League. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  8. ^ Rorabaugh, Seth (January 29, 2023). "Penguins assign Jonathan Gruden, Dustin Tokarski to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton". Trib Live. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  9. ^ Horwat, Nick (July 17, 2023). "Penguins Re-Sign Jonathan Gruden to One-Year Contract". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  10. ^ Horwat, Nick (September 29, 2023). "Multiple Penguins Clear Waivers, Assigned to AHL". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Horwat, Nick (November 14, 2023). "Penguins Re-Assign Forward Hours After Recall". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  12. ^ "Penguins' Johnny Gruden: Elevated from minors". CBS Sports. December 8, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Horwat, Nick (December 8, 2023). "Penguins Set for Season and NHL Debuts Against Panthers". The Hockey News. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  14. ^ Vickers, Aaron (March 3, 2024). "Flames rally past Penguins with 3 goals in 3rd". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "John Gruden player profile". eliteprospects.com. February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
edit