Another member of the Pittsburgh Penguins 2017 Stanley Cup team is retiring. Chad Ruhwedel, who played 25 playoff games for the Penguins, announced his retirement this week.
Originally undrafted, Ruhwedel worked his way onto the Buffalo Sabres in 2012, joining the Penguins four seasons later. He helped the Penguins to a Stanley Cup in 2017, playing in six playoff appearances in that time.
“Playing in the NHL has been a dream come true,” Ruhwedel said in a statement. “I’m incredibly grateful to the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers organizations for giving me the opportunity to live that dream. While there have been countless unforgettable moments on the ice, it’s the relationships and friendships built along the way that I cherish most.”
“To my family, teammates, coaches, fans and countless others who supported me, thank you for being a part of this amazing journey.”
Last season, Ruhwedel had one assist in five games for the New York Rangers. He scored 18 points in 50 games for Hartford in the AHL in that timeframe. Ruhwedel, 35, played 13 seasons of professional hockey. He ended his career with 13 goals, 37 assists and 50 points in 369 career games.
Ruhwedel’s Time with the Penguins
Ruhwedel played eight of his 13 NHL seasons with the Penguins. He served a depth defender role, often slotting in when other defensemen suffered injuries or inconsistency. His coaches often praised him for his work on the penalty kill and his defensive awareness on the ice. While he wasn’t known as a prolific scorer, Ruhwedel’s defensive instincts made him a mainstay on Pittsburgh’s depth chart.
His best season came in 2021-22 where he produced four goals and nine assists for 13 points in 78 games with the Penguins. He was dealt to the Rangers at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline for a 2027 fourth round pick.
The San Diego, California native managed a 51.1% Corsi For% at even strength and a 91.8% on-ice save percentage at even strength. In layman’s terms, he was a consistent defensive threat able to stifle scoring from opposition on a regular basis.
Penguins Embracing Youth Movement
Earlier this month, Josh Yohe, Penguins beat reporter for The Athletic, shared devastating news regarding franchise legend Evgeni Malkin.
âEvgeni Malkin will return for his 20th campaign with the Penguins next season. It will be his last in Pittsburgh. While it remains unclear if future Hall of Fame center will retire following the 2025-26 season, the Penguins are not expected to offer him another contract with the franchise, sources within the organization said.â
âMalkin showed flashes last season, but the Penguins, who are very much pushing a youth movement, do not believe that bringing him back after he turns 40 is feasible.â
Two names in particular stand out as trade candidates: Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust. Yohe stressed the importance of a youth movement with these names in mind. “I havenât a clue at this point,” Yohe said when asked about trades. “Time will tell. Penguins president/general manager Kyle Dubas isnât selling Rakell and Rust for peanuts, nor is he married to the idea of keeping them for the long term.
“Still, I keep going back to what several team sources have told me: Dubas wants to go young next season.”
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