On May 21st, 2024 Pittsburgh Penguins re-signed two forwards in the organization. Jonathan Gruden and Jack St. Ivany both spent time in the AHL this past season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and each had call ups to the NHL.
Jonathan Gruden
Gruden, or “Gruds”, as he is known around the rink, skated in 13 games for Pittsburgh in the 2023-2024 season. He scored his first NHL goal on March 2nd against Calgary. In his time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, Gruden tallied 13 goals and 11 assists in the span of 47 games.
The forward has skated in four professional seasons with the Pittsburgh organization. He has played in 208 AHL games and has notched 45 goals and 51 assists. In seven post-season games, he adds three points to his record having 1 goal and 2 assists. Gruden served as the Alternate Captain this season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Before becoming pro, Gruden played with the London Knights in the 2019-2020 season and tallied 30 goals with 36 assists in 59 games. He was second on the team in goals and fourth in points that season. He played one year of college hockey at Miami University and dressed in 38 games. He made 3 goals with 12 assists.
Gruden was drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, 95th overall. He was acquired by Pittsburgh in October of 2020. Gruden has a solid chance of cracking the opening night line up in the fall.
Jack St. Ivany
St. Ivany spent a majority of his season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and played in 54 games. He notched 4 goals with 11 assists in that span. He was recalled to Pittsburgh and dressed for his NHL debut on March 22nd against the Dallas Stars. In his NHL debut, he tallied 1 assist.
The defenseman has dressed for 117 career AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins over the course of two season. He has totaled 4 goals with 19 assists. He dressed in the two playoff games this AHL post-season.
Hailing from Manhattan Beach, California, St. Ivany played four years of NCAA hockey between Yale University in the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons. He then transferred to Boston College and played in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 seasons for BC. In the total of 115 college games, St. Ivany notched 12 goals with 48 assists. He had a career year in his senior year with 35 games dressed, tallying 20 assists and 4 goals. He was also named to the Hockey East Third All-Star Team. In 2019, St. Ivany threw on the red, white, and blue and helped Team USA earn a silver medal at the World Junior Championship.
St. Ivany was initially drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He was chosen 112th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. In August of 2022, he signed a two year, entry level contract with Pittsburgh when he became a free agent. St. Ivany made strides in his game this year in the AHL. He could possibly see more time in the NHL and spend a majority of his season in the AHL.
