Penguins’ John Ludvig knocked out after collision, leaves games vs. Stars
Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman John Ludvig left Tuesday’s game vs. the Dallas Stars with an upper-body injury.
Ludvig appeared to be knocked out after an open-ice collision with Stars’ forward Radek Faksa midway through the second period.
A scary collision between John Ludvig and Radek Faksa, Ludvig was helped off the ice.#LetsGoPens | #TexasHockey pic.twitter.com/mX1gfpp9rX
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 25, 2023
Ludvig was down for several minutes while being attended to by the team’s medical staff. He was able to skate off the ice with the help of his teammates.
Tuesday was Ludvig’s first career NHL game. He was a late addition to the lineup and has been a healthy scratch in every game so far in 2023-24.
Welcome to the NHL, John Ludvig! 🏒 pic.twitter.com/VUQ6OyGBrZ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 24, 2023
The Penguins claimed Ludvig off waivers from the Florida Panthers earlier this month. Last July, the Panthers signed the 23-year-old to a two-year, two-way contract. He spent the 2022-23 campaign with the Panthers’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, scoring three goals and 14 assists for 17 points in 54 games.
Ludvig was taken in the third round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Panthers. He was born in the Czech Republic and spent his junior career with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League.
During his final season in the WHL, Ludvig led the Winterhawks blue line in scoring with 17 goals and 45 assists for 62 points in 60 games.