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John Gruden was born in 1970 and is of American nationality. During the early 1980s, he played high school hockey in Hastings, Minnesota, demonstrating early promise as a defenseman.
Gruden was selected 168th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft. Throughout his NHL career, he played for the Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, and Ottawa Senators. He appeared in over 92 regular season games, recording one goal, eight assists, and a total of nine points, along with 46 penalty minutes.
In addition to his NHL experience, Gruden played overseas in Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) with Eisbären Berlin, further expanding his professional resume. He notably returned to the NHL during the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, beginning the year in the minors before being called up late in the season. He participated in 14 regular-season games and three playoff contests, performing reliably as a depth defenseman.
Following his retirement from professional play, Gruden transitioned into coaching. He served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Little Caesars AAA hockey club, working specifically with the Squirt 2000 squad. He also coached briefly at Brother Rice High School, helping to train young talent, including forward Patrick VanDusen.
Gruden’s coaching journey included a tenure with the Stoney Creek High School Cougars in Michigan, where he collaborated with NHL alumnus Greg Johnson. Additionally, he was involved with the Red Wings Alumni Association, contributing to community outreach and player development initiatives.
Continuing to build his coaching credentials, Gruden joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as an assistant coach. In this role, he played a part in helping Team USA capture the gold medal at the 2014 IIHF World U18 Championship—a significant milestone in his coaching career.
In 2015, Gruden was announced as the inaugural head coach of the Flint Firebirds for their debut season (2015–16) in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). His tenure was marked by a highly publicized episode during which he was briefly dismissed mid-season. Reports at the time alleged that the dismissal stemmed from a disagreement over playing time for defenseman Håkon Nilsen, the owner's son; however, team president Costa Papista publicly denied these claims.
Following a dramatic player walkout in support of Gruden, he was reinstated as head coach, and his commitment to the team was further recognized with a three-year contract extension. His leadership during that tumultuous period earned widespread respect across the junior hockey community.
Gruden has maintained a notably private personal life. Details regarding his marital status, family, or presence on social media platforms like Twitter are not publicly available. Similarly, his salary and net worth have not been publicly disclosed, reflecting his preference to keep personal matters out of the spotlight.
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