The Chicago Blackhawks have signed defenceman Jan Rutta to a one-year contract extension worth $2.25 million. This contract carries him through the 2018-2019 season.
Defenseman Jan Rutta has signed on for another season with Chicago!
The one-year contract extension runs through the 2018-19 season. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/BayLOdjANw
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) March 8, 2018
Jan Rutta Signs Extension with the Chicago Blackhawks
Jan Rutta is playing in his first NHL season, after leaving the Czech Republic and joining Chicago last summer. He has put up six goals and 19 assists so far in 43 games. His possession numbers are 50.6% Corsi and a relative Corsi of -4.3%. The Blackhawks signed the undrafted free agent on June 7th, 2017, giving him a one-year Entry Level Contract.
Last season with EHT (Czech Republic) he scored eight goals and 24 assists for 32 points in 46 games. He also added 32 minutes in penalties. He also played with the Czech Republic in the World Cup of Hockey. During the World Cup, he scored one goal in eight games. Rutta was brought in to add size and offensive ability to the Blackhawks blue line. He stands at 6-foot-3-inches and 198 pounds.
What this Means for the Future
Rutta currently leads all Blackhawks defensemen with six goals on the year. The Blackhawks have locked up most of the defensemen for next year as Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Connor Murphy, Jordan Oesterle, Erik Gustafsson, and Rutta are all signed for next season.
With this, the Blackhawks will have young blue-line that may have the ability to possibly make a strong playoff run. So far this season Rutta has spent most of his time playing on the third defensive unit with Oesterle.
This is Rutta’s first season playing in North America after coming over from the Czech Republic this off-season. The transition period was short, and Rutta has not seemed to have any problems fitting into the style of North American hockey.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
