When North Dakota defenseman Jake Livanavage was hoping to sign with an NHL team as a college free agent, he didn’t extend the search much longer than his first interaction with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
“It was my first Zoom call with them. I got off the phone and just felt comfortable,” Livanavage said at the Pens’ recent development camp. “Right away, it was just kind of like, ‘I think that’s it. That’s where I want to be.’”
In the days since Livanavage made those comments, they are ringing truer than ever.
Via NHL player moves around the draft and free agency, the Penguins have some holes that have opened up on the left side of their defense. Ryan Shea went to Edmonton. Parker Wotherspoon is now in Las Vegas. Declan Carlile is probably the biggest addition to that side of the blueline. Ryan Graves, Ilya Solovyov and Sam Girard are among the other names who will be vying for minutes there.
After making his NHL debut with the Pens in the 2025-26 regular season finale last year, Livanavage knows this summer could prove to be the perfect time to make an impression.
“This summer it’s just been getting bigger and stronger — being able to play against men,” Livanavage said. “Coming out and working as hard as I can, being ready for a training camp from the first day. I feel good right now. Super excited to get going.”
The “getting bigger and stronger” thing is no simple task. Just ask fellow Penguins blueline prospect, Owen Pickering. The annual conversation about him seems to be a yearly update on whatever it is he could possibly do to add on to his wiry 6-foot-5 frame.
Livanavage has a different build. He was last listed at North Dakota as being 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. Even if that was a bit generous, the 22-year-old claims to have added 15 pounds this offseason.
Largely, he credits a physical development program that allowed him to maintain his weight and strength during the season while playing an NCAA schedule.
“Playing Friday, Saturday nights, you get Sunday off,” Livanavage detailed. “Then you get a whole week to kind of recoup your body. Being in the gym, being able to work out in between (games), that put on some size during the season as well. It was big for me. I’m super grateful for the time there. It was some of the best memories I have. North Dakota was awesome. I can’t thank them enough.”
Jake Livanavage capped off his memorable UND career by collecting the 2026 Glenn "Red" Jarrett Male Athlete of the Year Award!#UNDproud | #LGH | @UNDmhockeypic.twitter.com/FiGtvMcfJA
— NorthDakotaAthletics (@UNDsports) May 8, 2026
The All-NCHC defenseman put up 14 goals and 82 points over his three seasons with the Fighting Hawks, culminating in a trip to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas this past season.
“Any time you’re playing for a championship at any level, it’s incredible. Not the outcome we wanted (losing to Wisconsin in the semifinal), but it was just a special group that we had,” Livanavage said. “Those teams don’t come around very often. It was just an unbelievable year.”
It’s unlikely the 2026-27 Penguins will be that kind of team. That may actually be perfect for Livanavage. Even if he doesn’t make the NHL roster out of camp, opportunities should exist throughout the season. How he takes advantage of them could be traced back to his work this summer.
And his foresight to sign with the Penguins in the first place.
Listen: Our final hockey podcast of the season with Brian Metzer of the Penguins Radio Network