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 Former teams	Chicago Blackhawks Anaheim Ducks San Jose Sharks Seattle Kraken
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 Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 7th round (210th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

As a youth, Megna played in the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Chicago Mission minor ice hockey team. ^[1]

Megna with the San Diego Gulls in 2015

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] 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 Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). ^[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.

Megna with the Seattle Kraken in 2023

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. 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 6 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]

Personal life

Megna comes from a family of athletes. His older brother Jayson ^[24] is also a professional hockey center for the Boston Bruins, and his father Jay played collegiate and professional football. ^{[25] [26]} His mother, Jacqueline, was an All-American athlete in high school. ^[4]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				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

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

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. "Jaycob Megna". omavs.com. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
5. "Megna forgoes final season at Nebraska-Omaha after signing with Ducks". USCHO.com. 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". National Hockey League. September 28, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
8. Shohara, Kyle (April 6, 2017). "Megna Set to Make NHL Debut Tonight vs. Blackhawks". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
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". National Hockey League. January 31, 2019. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
13. "Vegas Golden Knights announce roster transactions". Vegas Golden Knights. July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
14. "Barracuda sign defenseman Jaycob Megna". San Jose Barracuda. November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
15. "Sharks Sign Defenseman Jaycob Megna". National Hockey League. July 28, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
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". National Hockey League. May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
19. "Sharks Acquire Fourth-Round Pick for Megna". San Jose Sharks . Retrieved February 5, 2023.
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.
23. "Rangers down Blackhawks 4-1". ESPN . January 5, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
24. "Brotherly love will continue in playoffs". The Gazette . April 19, 2011. Retrieved April 7, 2014.
25. "Defensive Trio of 2012 Seventh-Round Picks Finding Rare Success at NHL Level". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
26. Adamski, Chris (July 18, 2013). "Jayson Megna hopes next stop is Pittsburgh". National Hockey League. Retrieved February 4, 2019.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Eurohockey.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database