{{Short description|American ice hockey player (born 2000)}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox ice hockey biography | name = Jonathan Gruden | image = Jonathan Gruden.jpg | image_size = | caption = Gruden in 2023 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|5|4}} | birth_place = Rochester Hills, Michigan | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Jonathan Gruden Stats and News |url=https://www.nhl.com/player/jonathan-gruden-8480836 |access-date=February 4, 2023 |website=NHL.com |publisher=National Hockey League |language=en-US}}</ref> | weight_lb = 172<ref name="auto"/> | position = Forward | shoots = Left | league = NHL | team = New Jersey Devils | prospect_team = Utica Comets | prospect_league = AHL | former_teams = Pittsburgh Penguins | ntl_team = | draft = 95th overall | draft_year = 2018 | draft_team = Ottawa Senators | career_start = 2020 | career_end = }} '''Jonathan Gruden''' (born May 4, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round, 95th overall, of the 2018 NHL entry draft. He previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL.
==Playing career== ===Amateur=== 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).<ref name="USNTDP">{{cite web |url=https://teamusa.usahockey.com/news_article/show/633996 |title=NTDP Announces 2016-17 U.S. National U17 Team Roster |publisher=USA Hockey |date=April 8, 2016 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> In his first season in 2016–17, he scored six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 34 games. In his under-18 year in 2017–18, he scored 15 goals and 34 points in 25 games.<ref name="hockeydb">{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=196116 |title=Jonathan Gruden |website=hockeydb.com |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> Committing to a collegiate career with Miami University, Gruden as a freshman in the 2018–19 season, collected just three goals and 15 points through 38 games.<ref name="USNTDP"/><ref name="hockeydb"/> After just one season with the Miami RedHawks, preferred 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.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://londonknights.com/article/knights-sign-pair-4 | title = Knights sign pair | publisher = London Knights |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706212008/https://londonknights.com/article/knights-sign-pair-4 |archive-date=July 6, 2019 |date=May 3, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2023}}</ref> 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 on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name="hockeydb"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/ohl-cancels-rest-2019-20-regular-season-due-covid-19-pandemic/ |title=OHL cancels rest of 2019-20 regular season due to COVID-19 pandemic |work=Sportsnet |date=March 18, 2020 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref>
===Professional=== 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. Gruden signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Senators on April 3, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/senators/news/senators-sign-forward-jonathan-gruden-to-three-year-entry-level-contract/c-306415864 |title=Senators sign forward Jonathan Gruden to three-year, entry-level contract |publisher=Ottawa Senators |via=NHL.com |date=April 3, 2019 |access-date=February 4, 2023}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-acquire-gruden-and-2020-second-round-draft-pick-for-matt-murray/c-319347414 |title=Penguins acquire Gruden and 2nd round draft pick for Matt Murray |publisher=Pittsburgh Penguins |via=NHL.com |date=October 8, 2020 |access-date=October 8, 2020}}</ref> Gruden was assigned to the Penguins' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to begin the 2020–21 season, and recorded six goals and 14 points in 32 games.<ref name="hockeydb"/><ref name="rorabaugh">{{cite web |url=https://triblive.com/sports/penguins-rookie-forward-jonathan-gruden-is-trying-to-just-keep-playing/ |title=Penguins rookie forward Jonathan Gruden is trying to 'just keep playing' |work=Trib Live |last=Rorabaugh |first=Seth |date=January 19, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> He spent the following 2021–22 season in the AHL as well, tallying ten goals and 27 points in 75 games.<ref name="hockeydb"/><ref name="rorabaugh"/> The AHL Penguins qualified for the playoffs and advanced to the second round were they were knocked off by the Springfield Falcons in three games in their best-of-five series.{{sfn|Chaimovitch|2025|p=289}} Gruden recorded one goal and three points in five-game playoff run.<ref name="hockeydb"/>
Gruden was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to begin the 2022–23 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-assign-jonathan-gruden-to-the-wilkes-barre-scranton-penguins-336064686 |title=Penguins Assign Jonathan Gruden to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |publisher=Pittsburgh Penguins |via=NHL.com |date=October 4, 2022 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> He was recalled by Pittsburgh in January 2023 and made his NHL debut in a 4–3 win over the Anaheim Ducks.<ref name="rorabaugh"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/anaheim-ducks-pittsburgh-penguins-game-recap-339736148 |title=Guentzel, Penguins rally late, defeat Ducks in OT |last=Crosby |first=Wes |publisher=National Hockey League |date=January 16, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> His second game was against the team which drafted him, the Ottawa Senators.<ref name="rorabaugh"/> He appeared in three games total for the Penguins, going scoreless, and was a healthy scratch for four more before being returned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on January 29.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://triblive.com/sports/penguins-assign-jonathan-gruden-dustin-tokarski-to-wilkes-barre-scranton/ |title=Penguins assign Jonathan Gruden, Dustin Tokarski to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton |work=Trib Live |last=Rorabaugh |first=Seth |date=January 29, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> On July 17, 2023, Gruden signed a one-year extension with Pittsburgh.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/pittsburgh-penguins-resign-jonathan-gruden-one-year |title=Penguins Re-Sign Jonathan Gruden to One-Year Contract |last=Horwat |first=Nick |work=The Hockey News |date=July 17, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> He finished the season with 16 goals and 31 points in 54 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.<ref name="hockeydb"/>
Gruden signed a one-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh in July 2023.<ref name="dad">{{cite web |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/penguins-re-sign-forward-jonathan-gruden-to-one-year-two-way-deal/ |title=Penguins re-sign forward Jonathan Gruden to one-year, two-way deal |work=Sportsnet |date=July 14, 2023 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> HE was invited to the 2023 Penguins training camp but failed to make the team. He was placed on waivers and after going unclaimed, assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/news/multiple-pittsburgh-penguins-clear-waivers-assigned-ahl |title=Multiple Penguins Clear Waivers, Assigned to AHL |work=The Hockey News |last=Horwat |first=Nick |date=September 29, 2023 |access-date=October 10, 2023}}</ref> Gruden had a brief call-up (four hours) in November 2023 that did not result in any playing time,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-reassign-jonathan-gruden-hours-recall |title=Penguins Re-Assign Forward Hours After Recall |work=The Hockey News |last=Horwat |first=Nick |date=November 14, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> and was then returned to the AHL before being recalled on December 8<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/penguins-johnny-gruden-elevated-from-minors/ |title=Penguins' Johnny Gruden: Elevated from minors |work=CBS Sports |date=December 8, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> and making his season debut that night for Pittsburgh against the Florida Panthers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/pittsburgh-penguins-season-nhl-debuts-florida-panthers |title=Penguins Set for Season and NHL Debuts Against Panthers |work=The Hockey News |last=Horwat |first=Nick |date=December 8, 2023 |access-date=December 15, 2023}}</ref> Gruden scored his first NHL goal on March 2, 2024, against Jacob Markström of the Calgary Flames.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-calgary-flames-game-recap-march-2 |title=Flames rally past Penguins with 3 goals in 3rd |access-date=March 12, 2024 |publisher=National Hockey League |last=Vickers |first=Aaron |date=March 3, 2024}}</ref> He was placed on waivers again on March 11, but went unclaimed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://triblive.com/sports/penguins-waive-forward-jonathan-gruden/ |title=Penguins waive forward Jonathan Gruden |work=Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |last=Rorabaugh |first=Seth |date=March 11, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> In 13 games with Pittsburgh, he recorded the one goal.<ref name="hockeydb"/> He was assigned to the AHL on March 29, but was recalled later that day.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/penguins-johnny-gruden-sent-down-to-minors/ |title=Penguins' Johnny Gruden: Sent down to minors |work=CBS Sports |date=March 29, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/penguins-johnny-gruden-back-with-pittsburgh/ |title=Penguins' Johnny Gruden: Back with Pittsburgh |work=CBS Sports |date=March 29, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> He finished the AHL season with 13 goals and 24 points in 47 games.<ref name="hockeydb"/> Wilkes-Barre/Scranton qualified for the playoffs and faced the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in their first round, best-of-three series. The Phantoms eliminated the AHL Penguins in two games, with Gruden going scoreless in the series.<ref name="hockeydb"/>{{sfn|Chaimovitch|2025|p=291}}
In the 2024 offseason he signed a two-year contract with the Penguins.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-re-sign-forward-jonathan-gruden-to-a-two-year-contract |title=Penguins Re-Sign Forward Jonathan Gruden to a Two-Year Contract |publisher=Pittsburgh Penguins |via=NHL.com |date=May 21, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> He suffered an upper body injury in training camp and was placed on waivers ahead of the 2024–25 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/hockey/news/penguins-johnny-gruden-will-return-sunday/ |title=Penguins' Johnny Gruden: Has upper-body injury |work=CBS Sports |date=September 25, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2024/10/04/sam-poulin-waivers-john-ludvig-pickering-tristan-broz-ville-koivunen/stories/202410040088 |title=Penguins place Sam Poulin, John Ludvig on waivers, assign Owen Pickering, Tristan Broz to AHL |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |url-access=subscription |last=Hoover |first=Cameron |date=October 4, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> After going unclaimed, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he was named one of the team's alternate captains.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2024/11/30/wbs-penguins-gruden-leading-by-example-in-return-bid/ |title=WBS PENGUINS: Gruden leading by example in return bid |work=Scranton Times-Tribune |last=Androckitis |first=Tony |date=November 30, 2024 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> In 42 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he produced seven goals and 13 points.<ref name="hockeydb"/>
At the 2025 NHL trade deadline on March 7, 2025, Gruden was dealt by the Penguins alongside forward Cody Glass to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Chase Stillman, the signing rights to prospect Max Graham and a third-round pick in 2027.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/cody-glass-traded-to-devils-by-penguins |title=Glass traded to Devils by Penguins for Stillman, rights to Graham |publisher = National Hockey League |date=March 7, 2025 |access-date=March 7, 2025}}</ref> He was assigned to the AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/devils-acquire-glass-release-3-7-25 |title=Devils Acquire Glass {{!}} Release |publisher=New Jersey Devils |via=NHL.com |date=March 7, 2025 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref> In 18 games with Utica he tallied one goal and five points.<ref name="hockeydb"/>
Gruden was among those invited to the Devils' 2025 training camp, but was waived and after going unclaimed, assigned to Utica to start the 2025–26 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/devils-make-more-roster-moves-blog-10-5-25 |title=Devils Announce Roster Moves {{!}} Blog |publisher=New Jersey Devils |via=NHL.com |date=October 5, 2025 |access-date=November 18, 2025}}</ref>
==Personal== Gruden is the son of former NHL defenseman and current head coach of the Toronto Marlies, John Gruden.<ref name="dad"/>
== Career statistics == === Regular season and playoffs === {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! 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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2017–18 |U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 25 || 15 || 19 || 34 || 20 | — || — || — || — || — |- |2018–19 |Miami University |NCHC | 38 || 3 || 12 || 15 || 12 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2019–20 |London Knights |OHL | 59 || 30 || 36 || 66 || 23 | — || — || — || — || — |- |2020–21 |Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |AHL | 32 || 6 || 8 || 14 || 13 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |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 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2022–23 |Pittsburgh Penguins |NHL | 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | — || — || — || — || — |- |2023–24 |Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |AHL | 47 || 13 || 11 || 24 || 43 | 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2023–24 |Pittsburgh Penguins |NHL | 13 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 5 | — || — || — || — || — |- |2024–25 |Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |AHL | 42 || 7 || 6 || 13 || 48 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" |2024–25 |Utica Comets |AHL | 18 || 1 || 4 || 5 || 18 | — || — || — || — || — |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" |NHL totals ! 16 !! 1 !! 0 !! 1 !! 5 ! — !! — !! — !! — !! — |}
===International=== {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em" |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM |- | 2016 | United States | U17 | 5th | 5 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 |- bgcolor="#f0f0f0" | 2018 | United States | U18 | {{silver2}} | 7 || 0 || 4 || 4 || 4 |- bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="4" |Junior totals ! 12 !! 0 !! 5 !! 5 !! 6 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Bibliography== * {{cite book |url=https://theahl.com/mediaguide |editor-last=Chaimovitch |editor-first=Jason |date=2025 |title=2025–2026 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book |publisher=American Hockey League |location=Springfield, Massachusetts |oclc=22147888}}
==External links== * {{Ice hockey stats}} * {{AHL profile|7608}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gruden, Jonathan}} Category:2000 births Category:Living people Category:American men's ice hockey forwards Category:London Knights players Category:Miami RedHawks men's ice hockey players Category:Ottawa Senators draft picks Category:Pittsburgh Penguins players Category:Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins players Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players Category:Utica Comets players Category:21st-century American sportsmen