Jaycob Megna

Not to be confused with Jayson Megna.

Jaycob Megna
Megna with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2024
Born (1992-12-10) December 10, 1992 (age 31)
Plantation, Florida, U.S.
Height 6 ft 6 in (198 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Left
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Florida Panthers
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Anaheim Ducks
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Kraken
Chicago Blackhawks
National team  United States
NHL draft 210th overall, 2012
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2014–present

Jaycob Megna (born December 10, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the seventh round, 210th overall, of the 2012 NHL entry draft. He also played with the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken, and Chicago Blackhawks.

Playing career

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Amateur

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As a youth, Megna played in the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Chicago Mission minor ice hockey team.[1] After playing Midget Major U18 hockey for Team Illinois, and committing to play Division 1 hockey with the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks, Megna signed with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL) on May 11, 2010.[2] During the 2010–11 season, Megna was the co-winner of the USHL Scholar-Athlete Award for his 4.0 GPA at Mona Shores High School.[3] Megna then played three seasons with the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks, during which he recorded 4 goals, 18 assists, and 40 penalty minutes in 105 games played.[4]

Professional

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Megna with the San Diego Gulls in 2015

Megna was selected by the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the seventh round, 210th overall, of the 2012 NHL entry draft. On April 4, 2014, Megna chose to forgo his final year of college eligibility[5] when he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks.[6] After attending the Ducks 2015 training camp, Megna was assigned to Anaheim's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Diego Gulls, to begin the 2015–16 season.[7]

Megna made his NHL debut on April 6, 2017, against the Chicago Blackhawks.[8] Despite the ability to become a free agent on July 1, 2017, Megna signed a two-year contract with the Ducks during the offseason.[9] He recorded his first career NHL point, an assist, in a 6–2 win over the Montreal Canadiens on October 20, 2017.[10]

Megna attended the Ducks 2018 training camp, but was placed on waivers for the purpose of assigning him to the Gulls for the 2018–19 season. In October 2018, Megna was named captain of the Gulls for the 2018–19 AHL season.[11] After playing in 35 games and recording 13 points, Megna was recalled to the NHL on January 31, 2019.[12]

After six seasons within the Ducks organization, Megna left as an unrestricted free agent to sign a one-year, two-way $700,000 contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1, 2019.[13] Assigned to AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the duration of the 2019–20 season, Megna added three goals and 10 points through 60 games from the blueline.

As a free agent, Megna was unable to attract an NHL contract, opting to continue in the AHL by signing a one-year deal with the San Jose Barracuda on November 2, 2020.[14] On February 6, 2021, he was named captain of the Barracuda. In July 2021, he signed a one-year contract with the San Jose Sharks.[15] He made his debut for the Sharks on October 30, 2021, in a 2–1 win over the Winnipeg Jets.[16] His first NHL goal came on January 22, 2022, in a 1–7 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.[17] He re-signed a two-year contract with the Sharks on May 9, 2022.[18] In the 2022–23 season, Megna was in the midst of his first full season in the NHL, and had already eclipsed his career offensive highs with the Sharks in registering 11 assists and 12 points through 48 regular season games.

Megna with the Seattle Kraken in 2023

On February 5, 2023, the Sharks traded Megna to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for a 2023 fourth-round selection.[19] He was used sparingly with the Kraken for the remainder of the season, appearing scoreless through just six regular season games. Megna remained a healthy scratch during the club's inaugural playoff appearance, travelling with the roster as a designated "black ace".[20]

Entering the final season under contract with the Kraken in 2023–24, Megna remained on the roster by continuing as a healthy scratch. On December 7, 2023, Megna was assigned on a conditioning stint to AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, and made two appearances before returning to the Kraken.[21] Still to feature in a game with the Kraken, Megna was later claimed off waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks on January 3, 2024.[22] He made his season and Blackhawks debut, registering an assist, in a 4–1 defeat to the New York Rangers on January 5, 2024.[23] He remained with the Blackhawks for the remainder of the season, notching two assists through 44 appearances.[24]

As an unrestricted free agent from the Blackhawks, Megna was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, for the 2024–25 season on July 5, 2024.[24] After going unclaimed on waivers, Megna was assigned to Florida's AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, for the 2024–25 season.[25]

Personal life

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Megna comes from a family of athletes. His older brother Jayson[26] is, as of 2024, a professional hockey center for the AHL's Colorado Eagles, and his father Jay played collegiate and professional football.[27][28] His mother, Jacqueline, was an All-American athlete in high school.[4]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 Tabor Academy USHS 25 0 2 2 — — — — — —
2009–10 Team Illinois 18U AAA T1EHL 48 1 12 13 8 — — — — —
2010–11 Muskegon Lumberjacks USHL 55 1 17 18 24 6 0 3 3 0
2011–12 University of Nebraska Omaha WCHA 35 2 3 5 8 — — — — —
2012–13 University of Nebraska Omaha WCHA 38 2 5 7 14 — — — — —
2013–14 University of Nebraska Omaha NCHC 32 0 10 10 18 — — — — —
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 2 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Norfolk Admirals AHL 32 1 4 5 4 — — — — —
2015–16 San Diego Gulls AHL 67 0 12 12 14 9 1 0 1 0
2016–17 San Diego Gulls AHL 62 5 22 27 37 10 0 4 4 8
2016–17 Anaheim Ducks NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 Anaheim Ducks NHL 14 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2017–18 San Diego Gulls AHL 49 2 10 12 25 — — — — —
2018–19 San Diego Gulls AHL 38 2 11 13 20 16 0 2 2 10
2018–19 Anaheim Ducks NHL 28 1 3 4 12 — — — — —
2019–20 Chicago Wolves AHL 60 3 7 10 40 — — — — —
2020–21 San Jose Barracuda AHL 36 2 6 8 22 4 0 0 0 2
2021–22 San Jose Barracuda AHL 22 2 8 10 10 — — — — —
2021–22 San Jose Sharks NHL 44 2 6 8 16 — — — — —
2022–23 San Jose Sharks NHL 48 1 11 12 21 — — — — —
2022–23 Seattle Kraken NHL 6 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Coachella Valley Firebirds AHL 2 1 0 1 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 44 0 2 2 22 — — — — —
NHL totals 185 4 23 27 73 — — — — —

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2022 United States WC 4th 8 0 2 2 4
Senior totals 8 0 2 2 4

References

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  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. ^ Rop, Ron (May 10, 2011). "USHL Muskegon Lumberjacks add defenseman in Jaycob Megna". mlive.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  3. ^ "Youngstowns Kevin Liss and Muskegons Jaycob Megna Earn USHL Scholar-Athlete Award". Junior Hockey News. May 10, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Jaycob Megna". omavs.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  5. ^ "Megna forgoes final season at Nebraska-Omaha after signing with Ducks". USCHO. April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  6. ^ "Ducks sign defenseman Megna to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract". Anaheim Ducks. April 4, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2014.
  7. ^ "Ducks Reduce Roster to 34". Anaheim Ducks. September 28, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  8. ^ Shohara, Kyle (April 6, 2017). "Megna Set to Make NHL Debut Tonight vs. Blackhawks". Anaheim Ducks. Retrieved February 4, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  9. ^ "Ducks sign defenceman Jaycob Megna to two-year deal". Sportsnet. June 29, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  10. ^ "Grant's first 2 NHL goals lead Ducks' 6–2 rout of Canadiens". CBS Sports. October 24, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "Jaycob Megna Named Team Captain". San Diego Gulls. October 6, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  12. ^ "Ducks Recall Megna from AHL San Diego". Anaheim Ducks. January 31, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  13. ^ "Vegas Golden Knights announce roster transactions". Vegas Golden Knights. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019 – via NHL.com.
  14. ^ "Barracuda sign defenseman Jaycob Megna". San Jose Barracuda. November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  15. ^ "Sharks Sign Defenseman Jaycob Megna". San Jose Sharks. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021 – via NHL.com.
  16. ^ "Sharks top Jets in OT after coach, seven players put in COVID-19 protocol". National Hockey League. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  17. ^ "Colton scores twice for Lightning in victory against Sharks". National Hockey League. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  18. ^ "Sharks Re-Sign Jaycob Megna". San Jose Sharks. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022 – via NHL.com.
  19. ^ "Sharks Acquire Fourth-Round Pick for Megna". San Jose Sharks. Retrieved February 5, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  20. ^ Baker, Geoff; Shefte, Kate (May 11, 2023). "Kraken, Panthers enjoy playoff success after standing pat at NHL trade deadline". Seattle Times. Retrieved May 11, 2023 – via Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.
  21. ^ "Kraken's Jaycob Megna: On conditioning assignment". CBS Sports. December 7, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Blackhawks acquire Megna off waivers". Chicago Blackhawks. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 3, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  23. ^ "Rangers down Blackhawks 4-1". ESPN. January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Florida Panthers agree to terms with Jaycob Megna on a one-year, two-way contract". Florida Panthers. July 5, 2024. Retrieved July 5, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  25. ^ Dwork, David (October 3, 2024). "Florida Panthers place 2 forwards, 2 defensemen on waivers". The Hockey News. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "Brotherly love will continue in playoffs". The Gazette. April 19, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
  27. ^ "Defensive Trio of 2012 Seventh-Round Picks Finding Rare Success at NHL Level". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
  28. ^ Adamski, Chris (July 18, 2013). "Jayson Megna hopes next stop is Pittsburgh". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
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