Kyle Dubas stayed active on the waiver wire all preseason, carefully navigating how and when to send players down and get them through waivers, but also snagging a few players as well to join the Penguins organization.

Just hours before the 5pm deadline yesterday finalize rosters, Pittsburgh claimed scrappy defenseman John Ludvig off waivers from the Florida Panthers.

Ludvig is the second addition to the Penguins in recent days to come from waivers, joining forward Jansen Harkins, who also made the opening night roster.

Ludvig is a former third round pick, 69th overall, by Florida back in 2019. At just 23 years old, the Czechia native has spent the last three seasons in the American Hockey League.

Last season, Ludvig played 54 games for the Charlotte Checkers, recording 3 goals and 14 assists. He was a huge driver of play in Charlotte, contributing to a playoff appearance for the Checkers.

Ludvig’s specialty comes on the penalty kill, where his efforts helped the Checkers have a top 10 penalty kill in the entire AHL.

He is currently in the first of a two year deal he signed with the Panthers this summer. His contract is two way, paying him $775K at the NHL level.

At the time of his acquisition, he put the future of fellow depth defender Ryan Shea up in the air. Shea, 26, survived preseason and waiver wire cuts and still sits on the current NHL roster, outlasting Mark Friedman.

But on the official roster set for tonight’s home opener against Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks, both Shea and Ludvig are on the roster.

Shea and Ludvig are actually very similar players. Both are left shot defenders. Both measure in at 6′ 1. And players have spent the last three years in the AHL.

Ludvig provides more power in the physicality department. Ludwig weighs in at about 40 pounds heavier than Shea, and Ludvig has shown to have a much more rugged game, including 72 penalty minutes in the AHL last season.

Neither player has any prior NHL experience, meaning both will be eager to have a chance for their NHL debut in a Penguins sweater.