Introduction
Jonathan Gruden (born May 4, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for thePittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League (NHL).
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.
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.
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. 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. 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. Gruden was recalled by Pittsburgh in January 2023 and made his NHL debut in a 4–3 win over the Anaheim Ducks. His second game was against the team which drafted him, the Ottawa Senators. 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. On July 17, 2023, Gruden signed a one-year extension with Pittsburgh. 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. Gruden had a brief call-up (four hours) in November 2023 that did not result in any playing time, and was then returned to the AHL before being recalled on December 8 and making his season debut that night for Pittsburgh against the Florida Panthers.
Personal
Gruden is the son of former NHL defenseman John Gruden, who played with the Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals through his 10-year professional career. He is currently serving as the head coach of the Toronto Marlies.
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2016–17 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 34 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2017–18 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 25 | 15 | 19 | 34 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | Miami University | NCHC | 38 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | London Knights | OHL | 59 | 30 | 36 | 66 | 23 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 32 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 75 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 78 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2022–23 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | AHL | 54 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | United States | U17 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2018 | United States | U18 | 
|
7 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Junior totals | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | ||||