Jack St. Ivany ‘ecstatic’ for 1st NHL call-up, offers Penguins righty option on blue line
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A shortage of right-handed defensemen, specifically on the third pair, has been an issue of late for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Veteran Chad Ruhwedel filled those shoes this season and for several years prior, but his recent departure via trade to the New York Rangers created a void that coach Mike Sullivan has been forced to navigate over the last several games.
On the ice, that’s meant that a left-handed defenseman has been forced play their opposite side, with rookie John Ludvig and P.O Joseph alternating in that role of late.
How Sullivan proceeds with his blue line remains to be seen, but a new option entered the mix Friday in 24-year-old Jack St. Ivany, who was recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.
St. Ivany joins the Penguins for the first time and could make his NHL debut were he to crack the club’s lineup.
“It’s very exciting,” he said of his first NHL call-up. “I wasn’t expecting it, so a little bit of a whirlwind from yesterday, but I’m just ecstatic to be here.”
In 52 games at the AHL level this year, St. Ivany has scored four goals with eight assists.
A 6-foot-3, 198-pounder, St. Ivany has been at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for two seasons.
“Jack is obviously a right-handed defenseman, so that was one aspect that was part of the conversation,” Sullivan said. “The other aspect of it is he’s played extremely well. He’s been very good on the penalty kill, he’s a solid defending defenseman, fairly mobile, good size, so I think he’s going to bring that aspect – just a trustworthy, conscientious game – to our team.”
In 2022-23, after wrapping up his amateur playing career at Boston College (he played two seasons at Yale, as well), St. Ivany went on to appear in 63 games for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, contributing eight assists.
“This being my second year pro, (I’ve been) able to make a lot of strides this year and be more confident out there,” he said. “I just think that’s led to growth and me having confidence in all areas of my game.”
In 2018, St. Ivany was drafted in the fourth round (112th overall) by the Flyers, with Ron Hextall then serving as general manager in Philadelphia.
After Hextall joined the Penguins in the same capacity, he went on to sign St. Ivany to a two-year deal in 2022, with an annual salary cap hit of $857,500.
In a corresponding move Friday, the Penguins reassigned fellow defenseman Ryan Shea to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
However, Shea remained and practiced with the club at its Cranberry facility.
Following the Penguins’ win over San Jose on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena, Sullivan alluded to moving pieces along the blue line lately.
Playing rookie defensemen has been nothing new for the Penguins this year, as Ludvig and Shea both made their NHL debuts earlier in the season.
Prospectively doing so again with St. Ivany, who will inevitably need to acclimate to his new surroundings, is a consideration that can’t be overlooked.
“It’s a challenge for obvious reasons,” Sullivan said. “This is a hard league to play in, especially as a defenseman. … When a player hasn’t played a game yet, usually those first games, there’s a lot of adrenaline, a lot of excitement for that particular player.
“There’s also an adjustment process to the speed and things of that nature. So, that’s challenging. If we choose to go that route, then we’ll try to help Jack through that process.”
St. Ivany was greeted by a few familiar faces Friday in Shea plus forwards Jesse Puljujarvi and Valtteri Puustinen, all of whom shared the ice together earlier this season at Wilkes/Barre-Scranton.
“We played (together) this year and last year,” Puusitnen said. “He’s a good player. He (has) worked, worked so hard (every) day. I am so happy for him that he is here now.”
St. Ivany is by no means guaranteed a spot in the Penguins’ lineup.
But the first opportunity for that to happen is Saturday, as the Penguins (29-27-9) host Ruhwedel and the Metropolitan Division-leading New York Rangers at PPG Paints Arena.
Right off the bat, St. Ivany grasped the stakes of each remaining game for the Penguins, given their uphill battle to secure a postseason position.
As he gets used to his new environment, St. Ivany hopes to contribute in any manner possible.
“Obviously, it’s really tight here (being) five points out of a playoff spot,” St. Ivany said. “I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team win, whether it’s blocking a big shot, a bit hit – anything.”