Avalanche waive John Ludvig

The Colorado Avalanche placed defenseman John Ludvig on waivers Wednesday, as confirmed by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Through eight appearances with the Avalanche this season, Ludvig has registered two assists alongside six penalty minutes and a minus-four rating. Through 2024-25, Ludvig has also seen time with the minor-league affiliate Colorado Eagles, where through five outings he has posted one assist with a minus-three mark.

Wednesday’s transaction marks the second time this season that Ludvig has been placed on waivers. In early October, the Avalanche claimed Ludvig off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 24-year-old Czech-born blue-liner split time last season between the Penguins and the AHL squad in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. With the Penguins, Ludvig put up five points and 47 penalty minutes through 33 appearances, while he recorded two penalty minutes and a minus-two rating through four games in the minors.

The Penguins claimed Ludvig off waivers from the Florida Panthers in October 2023. Ludvig was originally chosen by the Panthers in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft.

A graduate of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks, Ludvig shined at the junior level where through 169 total appearances he tallied 87 points, underscored by the 2019-20 campaign when as captain he finished with north of point-per-game production counting 17 goals and 45 assists in 60 contests to earn on a spot on the WHL’s Western Conference First All-Star Team at year’s end.

Per PuckPedia, Ludvig is in the final year of a two-year pact that carries a $775,000 annual average value and can become a restricted free agent in the offseason.

For the Avalanche, the club sits 27-17-1 on the season and is holding down the second wildcard spot in the Western Conference with 55 points. Colorado won its most recent outing, prevailing in overtime versus the New York Rangers on Tuesday, and will look to make it back-to-back victories Thursday against the Edmonton Oilers.