The Penguins have recalled forward Jonathan Gruden from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL, it was announced on Sunday by Ron Hextall.
Gruden, 22, has scored 11 goals to go along with five assists in 32 AHL games this season. He has yet to debut in the NHL.
You might recall that Gruden was part of the Penguins' return in the trade that sent Matt Murray to the Ottawa Senators on the second day of the 2020 NHL Draft. Gruden has played exclusively with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton since coming to the Penguins' organization, amassing 27 goals and 30 assists in 139 games across three seasons.
A fourth-round draft pick of the Senators in 2018, Gruden is 6-foot, 172 pounds and plays the kind of game that has the potential to translate well in the type of role Mike Sullivan asks of the forwards in the Penguins' bottom six.
With injuries to Josh Archibald and Ryan Poehling, the Penguins were carrying just 12 forwards on the roster, so Gruden's recall might simply serve as some insurance. Although they have been skating on their own, it does suggest that Archibald and Poehling will remain on injured reserve for a bit longer and miss the Penguins' Monday night matchup with the Ducks at PPG Paints Arena.
