Jonathan Gruden

Jonathan Gruden
Born	(2000-05-04) May 4, 2000 United States
Occupation	Professional ice hockey forward
Years active	2016–present
Known for	Playing for the Utica Comets (AHL) and New Jersey Devils (NHL)

Jonathan Gruden (born May 4, 2000) is a professional ice hockey forward from the United States currently playing for the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League (AHL), while under contract with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 95th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft and has also been part of the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.

Amateur

Gruden honed his skills in Michigan, initially competing with the Honeybaked U16 squad before advancing to the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, where he played at both the U17 and U18 levels in the United States Hockey League (USHL). During the 2016–17 season, he notched 6 goals and 7 assists over 34 games, improving significantly in 2017–18 with 15 goals and a total of 34 points in just 25 contests.

He committed to Miami University for the 2018–19 NCAA season, contributing 3 goals and accumulating 15 points across 38 games as a freshman. After completing one year at the collegiate level, Gruden shifted to major junior hockey by signing with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), who had previously selected him 100th overall in their 2016 draft. In the shortened 2019–20 OHL campaign, he emerged as one of London’s leading scorers, registering 30 goals and totaling 66 points in 59 games before the season was prematurely ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professional

Gruden was drafted in his first year of NHL eligibility by the Ottawa Senators, who chose him in the fourth round, 95th overall, during the 2018 NHL entry draft. He inked a three-year entry-level contract with Ottawa on April 3, 2019.

Ahead of the pandemic-affected 2020–21 AHL season, Gruden was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins along with a second-round pick in 2020 in exchange for two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray on October 8, 2020. Assigned to Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he recorded six goals and totaled 14 points over 32 appearances. The following season, 2021–22, saw him contribute ten goals and amass 27 points across 75 games. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton advanced to the second round of the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs, where Gruden added one goal and three points in five playoff games.

Starting the 2022–23 campaign with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Gruden earned a call-up to Pittsburgh in January 2023 and made his NHL debut during a narrow 4–3 victory against the Anaheim Ducks. He featured in three NHL contests before returning to AHL duties. On July 17, 2023, he agreed to a one-year contract extension with Pittsburgh and concluded that AHL season with totals of 16 goals and 31 points over 54 games.

In July of that year, Gruden signed a one-year two-way deal with Pittsburgh. After attending training camp but not securing a spot on the NHL roster, he cleared waivers and was assigned back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. A brief recall occurred in November without game participation, followed by another recall in December when he made his season debut against the Florida Panthers. Gruden netted his inaugural NHL goal on March 2, 2024, against goalie Jacob Markström of the Calgary Flames. He was placed on waivers again on March 11 but remained unclaimed. Across thirteen NHL games that season, he scored once. His AHL contributions included thirteen goals and twenty-four points over forty-seven games. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton qualified for postseason play but were eliminated in their opening round.

During the offseason preceding the 2024 campaign, Gruden secured a two-year contract with Pittsburgh. An upper-body injury sustained during training camp led to him being placed on waivers prior to the 2024–25 NHL season. After clearing waivers, he was reassigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton where he served as an alternate captain. In forty-two games there, he posted seven goals and thirteen points.

At the NHL trade deadline on March 7, 2025, Pittsburgh traded Gruden along with forward Cody Glass to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Chase Stillman, prospect Max Graham’s signing rights, and a third-round selection in the 2027 NHL entry draft. Gruden was subsequently assigned to New Jersey’s AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, where he recorded one goal and five points over eighteen games.

Gruden participated in New Jersey’s training camp ahead of the 2025–26 AHL season but was waived and assigned back to Utica to begin that season.

Personal

Gruden is the offspring of former NHL defenseman and presently the head coach of the Toronto Marlies, John Gruden.

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
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		—	—	—	—	—
2017–18	U.S. National Development Team	USHL		25	15	19	34	20		—	—	—	—	—
2018–19	Miami University	NCHC		38	3	12	15	12		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	London Knights	OHL		59	30	36	66	23		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		32	6	8	14	13		—	—	—	—	—
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		—	—	—	—	—
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
2023–24	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		13	1	0	1	5		—	—	—	—	—
2024–25	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	AHL		42	7	6	13	48
"2024–25"	"Utica Comets"	"AHL"		"18"	1	4	5	18
NHL totals				16	1	0	1	5		—	—	—	—	—