What To Expect From Penguins Waiver Claim
The Pittsburgh Penguins added another waiver claim at the last minute putting John Ludvig in their roster.
Just when you thought the Pittsburgh Penguins roster was just about set, they pull a rabbit out of a hat and tack one more name to the roster.
Hours before the deadline to set rosters, the Penguins claimed defenseman John Ludvig off waivers from the Florida Panthers.
It was surprising move that not many, including Ludvig himself, didn’t see coming.
“It’s been a little bit of an emotional roller coaster,” Ludvig said. “I’m driving to Charlotte to the minors and I get a call that I’m coming here.”
Not only did Ludvig arrive in Pittsburgh, but he was present on the Penguins’ opening night roster for the 2023-24 season.
There isn’t any indication if Ludvig will play with the Penguins, but he certainly has a higher chance than a few in the system.
While yet to play in an NHL game, Ludvig possesses something that the Penguins’ front office found intriguing.
“I bring a hard defensive style game,” Ludvig said. “Something they’re saying this team needs, that’s what I’m looking to bring here.”
Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan even seemed a little shocked by the addition and had to learn about his new defenseman on the fly.
“I watched some film on John this morning,” Sullivan said. “That’s really my first experience at watching his overall game.”
Without an NHL game under his belt, Sullivan didn’t have any first-hand knowledge of Ludvig until he took the ice in a Penguins practice sweater.
Ludvig did take part in the optional skate with the Penguins despite only a couple hours of sleep.
“He appears to be a guy that’s a solid defending defenseman,” Sullivan said. “He hard to play against, he’s abrasive. Those are the strengths of his game and potentially that’s what he could bring to our group.”
When the Penguins announced their roster, it featured 10 new faces out of the 22 in total, and Ludvig was one of them.
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