Colorado Avalanche claim John Ludvig off waivers

The Colorado Avalanche have added some depth to their blueline, as the team has claimed John Ludvig off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to report the claim.

The 24-year-old defenseman did not make the Penguins out of training camp and now heads to Colorado. Ludvig made his NHL debut last season in Pittsburgh, appearing in 33 games for the Penguins, scoring three times and collecting five points. He averaged 11:58 of ice-time per game, which included just under a minute per contest while shorthanded. Ludvig finished his year landing 72 hits and blocking 33 shots. The Czechia native had his 2023-24 season cut short, undergoing successful surgery to repair an extensor tendon in his left wrist back in May.

Ludvig also spent some time with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last year, where he dressed in four games and recorded zero points and four penalty minutes. The former Portland Winterhawk was originally a 2019 third-round pick, #69th overall by the Florida Panthers. Throughout the Penguins recent exhibition action, Ludvig couldn’t seem to stay out of the penalty box, registering eight penalty minutes in his first three preseason games.

At 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, Ludvig gives the Avalanche another option for their back end. He’s signed for $775,000 against the cap this season and is a pending restricted free agent. The Avalanche add Ludvig to their blueline, one that they’ve re-tooled slightly heading into the new season. He’ll join the likes of Erik Brannstrom, Calvin de Haan, and Oliver Kylington as new additions on defense for Colorado.

The Avs continue their preseason schedule on Saturday night when they faceoff against Utah HC. Colorado is 1-4 to this point throughout the exhibition schedule and open up their regular season on Oct.11, when they head to Vegas to play the rival Golden Knights.