Penguins Lose Jack St. Ivany to Hand Surgery, Out Through Trade Deadline
The Penguins are going to have to navigate the next stretch of their season without one of their most quietly effective blueliners. Defenseman Jack St. Ivany underwent surgery on his left hand and is expected to miss up to eight weeks, sidelining him through the NHL trade deadline.
It’s a tough break for both player and team. This marks St.
Ivany’s second significant injury this season. He opened the year on injured reserve with a lower-body issue and didn’t return to game action until late November, when he got back up to speed during a conditioning stint in the AHL.
That stint was short but impressive - and it earned him a spot back in Pittsburgh’s lineup.
Since returning, St. Ivany has made the most of his minutes.
Paired with Ryan Shea on the Penguins’ third defensive unit, he’s posted seven assists and a +7 rating over 17 games - both career highs for the 26-year-old in his third NHL season. More than just the box score numbers, the advanced metrics back up his impact.
According to MoneyPuck, the St. Ivany-Shea pairing has controlled 52.6% of expected goals at 5-on-5 and has outscored opponents 11-5 during their time on ice together.
That’s the kind of under-the-radar efficiency teams crave from their depth pairings.
St. Ivany has always been an intriguing prospect for the Penguins.
Signed as a free agent out of Boston College in 2022, he’s shown steady growth in the organization. The front office clearly believes in his upside - enough to lock him into a three-year, $2.325 million extension in 2024.
That deal transitions from a two-way to a one-way contract after this season, signaling that the club sees him as a long-term NHL contributor.
Even during his recent AHL conditioning stint, he looked a cut above the competition, putting up five points and a +3 rating in just five games. So while a return to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton isn’t on the table, his absence now leaves a noticeable hole in Pittsburgh’s blue line rotation.
The timing isn’t ideal. With the Penguins in the thick of a crowded Eastern Conference playoff race, every lineup decision matters.
To fill the void, the team will turn to veteran Connor Clifton. Clifton has seen limited action this season - just 22 games in Pittsburgh’s first 51 - but he’ll now be tasked with stepping into St.
Ivany’s spot alongside Shea on the bottom pair.
For a team fighting for postseason positioning, losing a reliable depth defenseman like St. Ivany stings.
But this is where roster depth and adaptability come into play. The Penguins will need Clifton to step up, and they’ll hope St.
Ivany can return down the stretch - just in time to make an impact when it matters most.