While it remains to be seen if the Avalanche will issue pending restricted free agent defenseman John Ludvig a qualifying offer next month, it appears as if he’ll have at least one other option on the table. iSport’s Miroslav Horak relays that the blueliner is on the radar of Dynamo Pardubice in the Czech Extraliga for next season.
The 24-year-old was claimed off waivers in training camp for the second straight year, this time by Colorado. However, this time around, he cleared waivers in mid-January after spending a lot of the first half of the season as a scratch. All told, Ludvig played in just eight games for the Avs, notching two assists in a little under 13 minutes a night of playing time. He also got into 30 games with AHL Colorado, picking up a goal and 11 helpers.
Ludvig played in 33 NHL games with Pittsburgh in his only other taste of action at the top level but his first three professional seasons – largely mired with injuries – were spent in the minors.
Ludvig will be arbitration-eligible for the first time this summer and that eligibility could work against him as his NHL experience could allow him to command more than the minimum salary. It’s unlikely Colorado would like him making closer to the $1MM mark so if they can’t reach a deal beforehand, there’s a decent chance he will be non-tendered late next month which could make a decision to go play back home much more palatable.