GM Kyle Dubas plucked 23-year-old defenseman John Ludvig off the Florida Panthers. It’s the type of player the native Czechian is that threw me for a loop.
A genuine, hard-as-nails, drop-the-gloves, physical defenseman.
I know. Somebody must’ve made a mistake somewhere.
“There is an edge to his game, a physicality to his game that we can’t really find in practices,” Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, while perhaps explaining the rugged defender’s availability. “It has to be found in real games against real opponents.”
The sturdy 6’1” 213-pounder is far from a one-trick pony.