Penguins Rookie John Ludvig Knocks Himself Out Throwing Big Hit in NHL Debut

Penguins rookie John Ludvig had a scary moment in his NHL debut against the Stars on Tuesday. 

In the second period, the 23-year-old defenseman laid a massive hit on Dallas forward Radek Faksa. It was a hard, clean hit, but it was Ludvig who got the worst of the collision. Ludvig laid motionless on the ice before he was able to helped to his feet and led off the ice by his teammates. He had blood around his mouth as he was ushered to the dressing room. 

He did not return to the game. 

Ludvig, the son of former NHL winger John Ludvig, was drafted by the Panthers in the third round of the 2019 draft. He was waived by Florida earlier this month and picked up by the Pens before opening night. He had been a healthy scratch for Pittsburgh’s first five games. 

The hit brought a premature end to his NHL debut, but the early indications are that the injury might not be as serious as initially feared. Ludvig was seen by teammates walking around and talking with staff members, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

“The weird part was, it was him initiating the hit and it was a good hit,” goalie Alex Nedeljkovic said. “It’s a fast-paced game, it’s a very physical game and it’s a harsh game. Just happy to see him be able to get up and skate off, for the most part, on his own.”