The Pittsburgh Penguins have announced that they’ve signed Jan Rutta to a contract. This deal is for $8.25 million and carries through the 2024-25 season. The average cap hit is $2.75 million per season.
The Penguins have signed defenseman Jan Rutta to a three-year contract worth $8.25 million.
The contract will begin in the 2022.23 season and runs through the 2024.25 season, and carries an average annual value of $2.75 million. https://t.co/l1ZrMrN9NK
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) July 13, 2022
Jan Rutta Gets Another Contract
Rutta scored three goals and handed out 15 assists for 18 points in 76 games this season. The Pisek, Czechoslovakia native had a 49.6 Corsi for and a -2.3 relative Corsi. He has 12 goals and 49 assists for 61 points in 238 career games. Rutta was a standout in the Czech Extraliga and was one the best shutdown blueliners in the league.
The veteran defenceman has played with the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning over his six-year NHL career. Rutta signed with the Blackhawks an undrafted free agent in the 2017-18 season. He was traded to the Lightning in Jan. 2019 after struggling in the AHL with Rockford.
Rutta eventually found his place in the NHL after a short time with Tampa’s AHL affiliate in Syracuse. The Czech defender found a great defensive partner in Norris Trophy-winner Victor Hedman. The soon-to-be 32-year-old played in hand in the Lightning’s Stanley Cup winners.
He’s also represented his native Czechia on the international level in juniors and was part of the 2017 squad at the IIHF World Championships.
What it Means
Rutta may be in his 30s and slowing down a bit, but he’s still a valuable defenceman. He won’t get a lot of points, but he can still be a good shutdown defender on the second pairing.
He’s worked his way from being stuck in the AHL to being a key cog with a multiple-time Stanley Cup champion. Rutta will be an important defender no matter what team he goes to. Veteran defenders like him are hard to come by and he doesn’t mind throwing the body or getting his hands dirty.
His best offensive season in the league was this season with his three goals.
Jan Rutta puts the Lightning up 1-0 late in the 1st.
It’s just his 3rd career playoff goal in 48 career games.
Rutta’s last goal was in Game 3 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. pic.twitter.com/cjJMXdRIUC
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 25, 2022
