Jonathan Gruden Explained

Jonathan Gruden
Birth Date:4 May 2000
Birth Place:Rochester Hills, Michigan
Height Ft:6
Height In:0[1]
Weight Lbs:172
Position:Forward
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Pittsburgh Penguins
Prospect Team:WBS Penguins
Prospect League:AHL
Draft:95th overall
Draft Year:2018
Draft Team:Ottawa Senators
Career Start:2020

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]

Playing career

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

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

Regular season and playoffs

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2016–17U.S. National Development TeamUSHL34 6 7 13 20
2017–18U.S. National Development TeamUSHL25 15 19 34 20
2018–19Miami UniversityNCHC38 3 12 15 12
2019–20London KnightsOHL59 30 36 66 23
2020–21Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL32 6 8 14 13
2021–22Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL75 10 17 27 785 1 2 3 6
2022–23Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL54 16 15 31 54
2022–23Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL3 0 0 0 0
2023–24Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL47 13 11 24 432 0 0 0 2
2023–24Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL13 1 0 1 5
NHL totals16 1 0 1 5

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2016United StatesU175th5 0 1 1 2
2018United StatesU187 0 4 4 4
Junior totals12 0 5 5 6

Notes and References

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