CRANBERRY — The Pittsburgh Penguins understand — and appreciate — what John Ludvig adds to their defense corps.
That the physicality he brings to their blue line is unmatched by any of his teammates.
They also recognize that, while Ludvig’s style of play comes with some obvious risks to his well-being — he has missed 21 of their first 46 games because of a pair of significant injuries — he can’t stray from it if he hopes to secure a steady spot in the lineup.
“I think he has to play the game that sets himself up for success, and physicality is part of it,” coach Mike Sullivan said Sunday. “When you play the game that (Ludvig) plays, there’s obviously risk associated with it, because he’s getting involved in the battles and uses his body, physically, whether it’s body checks or otherwise, to try to help us be harder to play against. I don’t think he can get away from the game that brings him success.”
Ludvig, who was claimed off waivers from Florida Oct. 9, suffered a concussion in his Pittsburgh Penguins debut on Oct. 24, when he knocked himself out delivering a big hit to Radek Faksa of Dallas. That injury caused him to miss 10 games.
He also has missed the past 11 games while recovering from an unspecified upper-body injury he received while trading punches with Matt Martin of the New York Islanders on New Year’s Eve.
“It was during the fight,” Ludvig said. “I’m not sure exactly when.”
There is, however, at least one thing of which he is certain: The medical misfortunes he’d endured in 2023-24 will not prompt him to abandon his rugged style, to bring out his inner pacifist.
“No,” he said. “No. Definitely not.”
Precisely when he’ll have an opportunity to show that in a game is unclear. Sullivan did not commit to using Ludvig when Winnipeg visits PPG Paints Arena Tuesday at 7:08 p.m., saying that he likely will be a “game-time decision.”
Ludvig was partnered with Chad Ruhwedel on the No. 3 defense pairing during practice Sunday, however, so he would seem to be a candidate to dress for the Jets game.
He prepped for his return to the lineup with a week-long stint with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ farm team in Wilkes-Barre.
The primary benefit of the time he spent there, Ludvig said, was “just getting my timing back.” That was important, he added, because “taking a month off the game, your brain kinds of slows down a little bit.”
He seems confident that it, as well as the rest of his game, is back up to speed. As much as it can be after an extended period without playing, anyway.
“I feel good,” Ludvig said. “It’s been about a month now, and I’ve been training hard with the guys here. It was nice to be back out with the team.”
How long he’ll stay healthy enough to remain there is impossible to predict. Although Ludwig said this is the first time he’s had two major injuries in the first half of a season, he recognizes that they’re an occupational hazard for someone who plays with such reckless disregard for his personal safety.
“The way I play, it happens,” he said. “Injuries are going to happen. I have to accept that. My goal is to try to stay healthy and win some games coming down the stretch here.”
More must-reads: