Ludvig agreed to terms on a one-year contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice (Czechia) on Wednesday.
Ludvig saw action in just eight NHL games for the Avalanche last year in which he generated two assists, nine shots and 16 hits while averaging a mere 12:57 of ice time. The blueliner was slightly more productive in the minors, generating 12 points in 31 regular-season games for AHL Colorado, but it wasn't enough for him to earn a qualifying offer from the Avs this offseason. At just 24 years old, the door is certainly still open for Ludvig to eventually return to the NHL, though he likely faces an uphill battle to do so.
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John Ludvig: Becomes unrestricted free agent
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Ludvig was not given a qualifying offer by Colorado and will be an unrestricted free agent Tuesday, Brennan Vogt of Hockey Mountain High reports.
Ludvig was claimed off waivers by the Avs back in October, appearing in just eight NHL games for the club. In those outings, the 24-year-old blueliner generated two assists, nine shots and 16 hits. It's possible the Penguins circle back on Ludvig after having lost him before the start of 2024-25, especially given the team's preference for younger players right now.
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Avalanche's John Ludvig: On conditioning assignment
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Ludvig is joining AHL Colorado for a conditioning assignment, the Avalanche announced Saturday.
Ludvig has been a healthy scratch for 10 consecutive games, so this will give him an opportunity to shake off the rust. He has two assists, six PIM and 16 hits in eight outings with the Avalanche in 2024-25.
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Avalanche's John Ludvig: Struggling to make lineup
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Ludvig has played just five times over 21 games since the start of November after being scratched Saturday versus the Predators.
The Avalanche have some flexibility with Keaton Middleton right now, and they have been juggling him up and down from the AHL rather than play Ludvig. Colorado claimed Ludvig off waivers from the Penguins before the start of the season, and he would need to clear waivers to be sent to AHL Colorado, so he's been hanging around with the NHL club as a healthy scratch. Ludvig has two helpers, nine shots on net, 16 hits and a minus-4 rating over eight contests this season.
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Avalanche's John Ludvig: Gathers assist
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Ludvig notched an assist and two PIM in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Hurricanes.
Ludvig was in the lineup over Calvin de Haan in Saturday's contest. While he earned his second assist over five games, Ludvig also saw a season-low 9:51 of ice time in the high-scoring contest, which suggests he didn't make a great impression to earn more playing time. The 24-year-old has added three shots on net, nine hits, three blocked shots and four PIM this season while spending most of the year in the press box.
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Avalanche's John Ludvig: Claimed by Colorado
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Colorado claimed Ludvig off waivers from Pittsburgh on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Ludvig played 33 regular-season games with the Penguins in 2023-24, picking up three goals and a pair of assists. However, he spent most of his first NHL campaign in the press box as a healthy scratch. Ludvig was likely acquired to be a depth defenseman for the Avalanche in 2024-25.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Lands on waiver wire
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Ludvig was placed on waivers by the Penguins on Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Ludvig featured in 33 NHL games for Pittsburgh last year and seemed to have a decent chance of making the Opening Night roster. Instead, the Czech blueliner will be headed for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, assuming he goes unclaimed. Still, even with the demotion, Ludvig should be atop the team's list of potential call-ups should the need arise.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Finishes season in press box
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Ludvig spent the final nine games of the season as a healthy scratch.
Ludvig was limited to a mere 33 games this year, notching three goals on 24 shots, two assists and 72 hits. Despite struggling to get into the lineup at the end of the campaign, Ludvig will likely be included on Pittsburgh's Opening Night roster in 2024-25.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Set for healthy scratch
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Ludvig (illness) will serve as a healthy scratch against the Maple Leafs on Monday, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Ludvig has been dealing with an illness but seems to be struggling to break into the lineup even back to 100 percent. There are some questions regarding Ryan Shea's (not injury related) availability Monday, which could open the door for Ludvig to get back into the lineup.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Game-time call versus New Jersey
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Ludvig (illness) will be a game-time decision for Tuesday's matchup with the Devils, Penguins play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Considering coach Mike Sullivan firmly ruled out Tristan Jarry, who is also dealing with an illness, there seems to be a chance Ludvig is healthy enough to play Tuesday. In 33 games this season, the 23-year-old Ludvig has generated just three goals and two assists but has delivered 72 hits and 33 blocks. If Ludvig does play, it would likely mean a return to the press box for Ryan Shea or Jack St. Ivany.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Out Monday
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Ludvig (illness) will not play Monday against the Rangers.
Ludvig was a late scratch after exiting warmups prior to Monday's game. The 23-year-old has five points in 33 games this season. The Penguins will be back in action Tuesday against the Devils.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Two points vs. Sharks
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Ludvig tallied a goal and an assist in Thursday's 6-3 win over San Jose.
Ludvig scored the eventual game-winner 2:38 into the third period, beating Magnus Chrona from the point, before adding an assist on a Rickard Rakell deflection later in the frame. It's the first career multi-point contest for the rookie defenseman, who had just one goal and two points through 26 games coming into Thursday. While his performance Thursday was encouraging, Ludvig isn't typically expected to contribute much offensively in a bottom-pairing role.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Sent to AHL for conditioning
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Ludvig (upper body) was loaned to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Sunday for conditioning purposes.
Ludvig, who hasn't played since Dec. 31 against the Islanders, will get some playing time at the minor-league level and could be back with Pittsburgh after the All-Star break. The 23-year-old defender has one assist, 12 shots on goal, 23 blocked shots and 37 hits in 19 NHL outings this campaign.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Not practicing with team
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Ludvig (upper body) has begun skating but still hasn't taken part in practice, Seth Rorabaugh of Tribune-Review Sports reports Wednesday.
Ludvig is technically eligible to come off long-term injured reserve Saturday against Montreal but the fact that he isn't practicing yet doesn't bode well for his return versus the Habs. Before suffering his upper-body issue, the 23-year-old defenseman was stuck in a 14-game pointless streak and is unlikely to generate much in the way of offensive production once cleared to play.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: On long-term injured reserve
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Ludvig was put on long-term injured reserve Wednesday, rather than the regular IR, with an upper-body injury, per Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Ludvig consequently isn't eligible to return until Jan. 27 versus Montreal at the earliest, assuming this move is retroactive to Sunday, which is when he was last in the lineup. The 23-year-old defenseman has an assist in 19 contests this season. Pierre-Olivier Joseph is likely to play regularly while Ludvig is unavailable.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Not a healthy scratch
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Ludvig is banged up and not available for Tuesday's game versus the Capitals, Wes Crosby of NHL.com reports.
Ludvig was initially expected to maintain his place in the lineup over Pierre-Olivier Joseph for Tuesday's contest. Instead, Ludvig will sit to deal with the undisclosed injury. Head coach Mike Sullivan is expected to comment on the 23-year-old defenseman's status after the game -- if not, an update should be available prior to Thursday's tilt with the Bruins.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: At practice Monday
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Ludvig (concussion) was on the ice for Monday's practice in a non-contact jersey. Coach Mike Sullivan told reporters, "He's doing really well, he feels really good. He's had a number of skates on his own, this was the first team practice he joined us for. Right now, we're certainly really encouraged with the progress that he's made." per Pens Inside Scoop.
Ludvig is taking the next step in his recovery process by joining the team on the ice, though he hasn't been cleared for contact yet. Additionally, Ludvig won't be eligible to come off long-term injured reserve until Nov. 19 against Vegas. Even once given the all-clear, the young defenseman could struggle for minutes given the crowded blue line.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Placed on injured reserve
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The Penguins have placed Ludvig (concussion) on long-term injured reserve Thursday, per CapFriendly.
Ludvig suffered the concussion versus Dallas on Oct. 24. It was his first career NHL game. Consider Ludvig out week-to-week, although he has resumed skating.
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Penguins' John Ludvig: Scooped up by Pittsburgh
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The Penguins claimed Ludvig off waivers from the Panthers on Monday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Ludvig has yet to appear in an NHL game after being selected by the Panthers in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The addition of the 23-year-old blueliner would seem to spell the end of Liobr Hajek's time in Pittsburgh on a professional tryout and will likely keep Mark Friedman in the minors, assuming he clears waivers. For his part, Ludvig figures to enter Tuesday's season opener against the Blackhawks as the Pens' seventh defenseman and is unlikely to suit up.
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Panthers' John Ludvig: Hits waiver wire
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Per Chris Johnston of TSN, Ludvig was placed on waivers Sunday.
Ludvig accounted for three goals, 17 points and 72 PIM in 54 games with AHL Charlotte last season. If he goes unclaimed, he will report back to the Checkers. The 23-year-old blueliner doesn't have any NHL experience yet.
