Another Penguins Defenseman To Make NHL Debut
For the second straight game, the Pittsburgh Penguins will have a defenseman making his NHL debut.
For the second time in as many games, the Pittsburgh Penguins will see an NHL debut for one of their new defenseman.
Ryan Shea made his debut against the St. Louis Blues, this time around against the Dallas Stars, the Penguins will trot out newcomer John Ludvig.
The former Florida Panthers prospect was scooped off of waivers just prior to the start of the regular season.
Ludvig was such a late entry to the team, he didn’t even make it in to any preseason games with the Penguins.
Despite the lack of game action, head coach Mike Sullivan has liked what he’s seen and learned from the 23-year-old.
“He’s a steady, solid, defending defenseman,” Sullivan said. “I think he’s going to bring us some grit in the battle areas. I think he’s strong in the net-front.”
One wrinkle that does come from Ludvig and Shea entering the lineup is that they are both left-shot defensemen.
If Shea remains in the lineup, one of the two will have to play on their off-side, which is something the Penguins practiced plenty of at training camp.
The Penguins do have options, however, as Chad Ruhwedel can stay put on the right side, or P.O. Joseph slots back in on the left with Ludvig on the right.
Ludvig spent 54 games last season at the AHL level with the Charlotte Checkers and recorded 17 points and 72 penalty minutes.
It isn’t immediately clear how the Penguins will deploy their bottom pairing.
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