The Penguins on Tuesday re-signed forward Jonathan Gruden to a two-year, two-way contract extension that runs through the 2025-26 season and carries an average annual value of $775,000 at the NHL level.
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Gruden, who just turned 24 years old this month, was set to become a restricted free agent this summer. He will still be a restricted free agent when his contract expires in 2026. He requires waivers to be re-assigned to the minors, having become waivers-eligible this past season.
The 6-foot, 172-pound Gruden appeared in 13 games at the NHL level with the Penguins this season in a bottom-six capacity, recording one goal. He spent much of the year in Wilkes-Barre, where he scored 13 goals and 11 assists in 47 games. He was scoreless in Wilkes-Barre's two-game playoff run.
Gruden's 13 NHL games this season came over three stints -- four games in December, one in February, and then eight in March. His best game was undoubtedly his last, the Penguins' 5-1 win over the Hurricanes on March 26. He was scoreless in the win, but added a significant spark in one shift that saw him lay out Carolina's Jack Drury with a hit then fight Stefan Noeson in response. Gruden was sent down after that Hurricanes win -- a necessary move that was forced by a combination of cap constraints and injuries requiring a recall on defense in place of Gruden's spot on the roster.
This season was Gruden's fourth in the Penguins' organization after being acquired in the Matt Murray trade in 2020. He was originally a fourth-round pick of the Senators in 2018. Over Gruden's four professional seasons he's skated in 208 AHL games with Wilkes-Barre, scoring 45 goals and 51 assists. In addition to his 13 NHL games this season, he skated in three NHL games in the 2022-23 season, going scoreless in all three.
As it stands now, the Penguins have openings at forward in the bottom-six to start the season with Jeff Carter retiring, Jansen Harkins on an expiring contract, and Matt Nieto starting the season on long-term injured reserve following offseason knee surgery. Gruden, who is capable of playing both center and wing, will likely be competing for one of the openings out of camp.
