Jaycob Megna

Jaycob Megna (born December 10, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for 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.

Junior and college hockey
As a youth, Megna played in the 2005 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Chicago Mission minor ice hockey team. 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. 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. 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.

Professional
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 when he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks. 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.

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

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. After playing in 35 games and recording 13 points, Megna was recalled to the NHL on January 31, 2019.

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. 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. 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. He made his debut for the Sharks on October 30, 2021, in a 2–1 win over the Winnipeg Jets. His first NHL goal came on January 22, 2022, in a 1–7 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. He re-signed a two-year contract with the Sharks on May 9, 2022. In the 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. 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".

Entering the final season under contract with the Kraken in, 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. Still to feature in a game with the Kraken, Megna was later claimed off waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks on January 3, 2024. He made his season and Blackhawks debut, registering an assist, in a 4–1 defeat to the New York Rangers on January 5, 2024. He remained with the Blackhawks for the remainder of the season, notching two assists through 44 appearances.

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 season on July 5, 2024.

Personal life
Megna comes from a family of athletes. His older brother Jayson is also a professional hockey center for the Boston Bruins, and his father Jay played collegiate and professional football. His mother, Jacqueline, was an All-American athlete in high school.