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Chad Ruhwedel

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Chad Ruhwedel
Ruhwedel with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018
Born (1990-05-07) May 7, 1990 (age 34)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Height 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight 188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb)
Position Defense
Shoots Right
NHL team
Former teams		 New York Rangers
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2013–present

Chad James Ruhwedel (born May 7, 1990) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

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Amateur

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Ruhwedel started playing youth ice hockey at the San Diego Ice Arena while a resident of Scripps Ranch. He later played for the San Diego Junior Gulls and La Jolla Jaguars as a youth, before playing for the Los Angeles Kings U18 AAA team. After juniors, he played for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, earning a Division I college hockey scholarship to UMass Lowell. Ruhwedel played at UMass Lowell from 2010 to 2013. He was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team in 2010–11, 2011–12, and 2012–13.[1][2][3] In 2011–12 he was a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star,[4] and in 2012–13 he was a Hockey East First-Team All-Star,[5] and an AHCA East First-Team All-American.[6] He also won the Bob Monahan Award as the best defenseman in New England.[7]

Buffalo Sabres

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On April 13, 2013, Ruhwedel signed a two-year entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Sabres.[8] He made his NHL debut that night against the Philadelphia Flyers as a replacement for an injured Tyler Myers.[9] Over his seven games with the Sabres, he record no points, no penalties, and finished with an even plus-minus rating.[10]

Ruhwedel with the Rochester Americans in 2013.

Ruhwedel returned to Buffalo in July to participate in the Sabres’ development camp but was not expected to make their opening night roster.[10] On September 23, Ruhwedel was re-assigned to the Sabres American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, to start the 2013–14 season.[11] Through his first month in the AHL, Ruhwedel was often paired with Brayden McNabb and played in all situations including the power play and penalty kill. Ruhwedel accumulated two goals and two assists for four points through October and early November.[12] While Ruhwedel was finding success in the AHL, the Sabres maintained a losing 7–23–3 record and had fired coach Ron Rolston and general manager Darcy Regier. On December 17, Ruhwedel was recalled to the NHL level as part of an ongoing player evaluation being conducted by interim coach Ted Nolan.[13] At the time of the recall, Ruhwedel had recorded four goals and 10 assists for 14 points through 26 games.[14] He earned another recall to the NHL level in January[15] but recorded no points over seven games.[16]

Ruhwedel was recalled to the NHL level on March 8, 2014, after Alexander Sulzer suffered a lower-body injury.[16] He recorded his first career NHL assist off a goal by Jamie McBain on April 4.[17] The following game Ruhwedel suffered a concussion after Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo delivered a hit to the head during a game. As a result of the hit, Rinaldo received a four game suspension and Ruhwedel was sidelined for the remainder of the season.[18] While recovering from the concussion, Ruhwedel signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Sabres organization. As a restricted free agent, he had previously received a qualifying offer from the Sabres the month before to retain his playing rights. Ruhwedel finished the 2013–14 season with one assist at the NHL level and 28 points with the Rochester Americans.[19]

Pittsburgh Penguins

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At the conclusion of his contract with the Sabres, on July 1, 2016, Ruhwedel signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins.[20] He scored his first National Hockey League goal on December 23, 2016, in a 4–1 victory over the New Jersey Devils.[21] He split his time during 2016–17 season playing 28 games in minors for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and 34 games Pittsburgh in the NHL. He would play six playoff games. Ruhwedel suffered a concussion in game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Ottawa Senators, and missed the rest of the season.[22] The Penguins would go on to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season; since Ruhwedel spent 1/3 of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL), he did not get his name on the cup. Pittsburgh did give him a day with the Stanley Cup, and a Stanley Cup ring.[23]

On June 22, 2017, the Penguins re-signed Ruhwedel to a two-year, $1.3 million extension with an annual average value of $650,000.[24]

On February 19, 2022, the Penguins re-signed Ruhwedel to a two-year, $1.6 million extension with an annual average value of $800,000.[25]

New York Rangers

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On March 8, 2024, Ruhwedel was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for the a 2027 fourth-round pick.[26]

Personal life

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Ruhwedel was raised in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego and attended Scripps Ranch High School, where he starred on the roller hockey team.[27]

Career statistics

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08 Los Angeles Jr. Kings 18U AAA
2008–09 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 55 0 11 11 30 4 0 1 1 4
2009–10 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 58 5 17 22 55 3 0 1 1 2
2010–11 UMass Lowell River Hawks HE 32 2 13 15 10 — — — — —
2011–12 UMass Lowell River Hawks HE 37 6 19 25 26 — — — — —
2012–13 UMass Lowell River Hawks HE 41 7 16 23 20 — — — — —
2012–13 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Rochester Americans AHL 47 4 24 28 22 5 2 3 5 4
2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 21 0 1 1 2 — — — — —
2014–15 Rochester Americans AHL 72 10 26 36 22 — — — — —
2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2015–16 Rochester Americans AHL 59 10 16 26 26 — — — — —
2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 28 4 12 16 12 — — — — —
2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 34 2 8 10 8 6 0 0 0 4
2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 44 2 3 5 16 12 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 18 1 1 2 4 — — — — —
2018–19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 5 1 4 5 2 — — — — —
2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 41 2 4 6 12 — — — — —
2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 17 0 2 2 14 — — — — —
2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 78 4 9 13 14 7 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 1 4 5 18 — — — — —
2023–24 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 1 3 4 4 — — — — —
2023–24 New York Rangers NHL 5 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
NHL totals 364 13 36 49 94 25 0 0 0 6

Awards and honors

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Award Year Ref
USHL
All-Star Game 2010
College
Hockey East First Team 2013
AHCA East First-Team All-American 2013
Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2013 [28]

References

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  1. ^ "San Diego product shining on ice for UMass Lowell". December 27, 2011. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  2. ^ "HockeyEastOnline.com – 100 STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED ON LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM". www.hockeyeastonline.com.
  3. ^ "HockeyEastOnline.com – 100 STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED ON LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM". www.hockeyeastonline.com.
  4. ^ "HockeyEastOnline.com – HOCKEY EAST ANNOUNCES 2011–2012 ALL-STAR TEAMS". www.hockeyeastonline.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  5. ^ "HockeyEastOnline.com – Press Releases". www.hockeyeastonline.com. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  6. ^ "UMass Lowell's Ruhwedel Named to AHCA/CCM All-America First Team". University of Massachusetts Lowell. April 12, 2013. Archived from the original on March 9, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  7. ^ "New England Hockey Writers honor best men, women of '12–13 at all levels". April 2, 2013. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN CHAD RUHWEDEL". National Hockey League. April 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 6, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  9. ^ "Enroth stops 29 shots, Ehrhoff scores in Sabres' 1–0 win over slumping Flyers". Fox News. April 13, 2013. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Mansfield, Aaron (July 20, 2013). "Ruhwedel in Sabres' defensive traffic jam". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  11. ^ Oklobzija, Kevin (September 23, 2013). "Amerks' leadership core on the way from Sabres". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  12. ^ Oklobzija, Kevin (November 8, 2013). "Amerks' Chad Ruhwedel never gave up on dream". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  13. ^ "SABRES SHUFFLE ROSTER BY RECALLING PORTER, RUHWEDEL FROM AHL ROCHESTER AND DEMOTING 3". The Hockey News. December 17, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  14. ^ Oklobzija, Kevin (December 17, 2013). "Mark Pysyk not surprised by reassignment to Amerks". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "BUFFALO SABRES SEND ROOKIE D MARK PYSYK TO ROCHESTER; PROMOTE D CHAD RUHWEDEL FROM AHL CLUB". The Hockey News. January 2, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  16. ^ a b "Sabres recall Ruhwedel after injury to Sulzer". Sportsnet. March 8, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  17. ^ @NHL (April 4, 2014). "Chad Ruhwedel (@chad5ruhwedel) of the @BuffaloSabres earned his first NHL point on this great shot from @jbain4" (Tweet). Archived from the original on December 13, 2023 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Sabres' Ruhwedel done for year after head hit". Sportsnet. April 7, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  19. ^ "Sabres re-sign Ruhwedel to two-year contract". Sportsnet. July 16, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  20. ^ "Penguins sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel". Pittsburgh Penguins. July 1, 2016. Archived from the original on July 4, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  21. ^ McDermott, Bryanna (December 23, 2016). "Snap Shots: Penguins 4, Devils 1". NHL.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  22. ^ "Penguins' Ruhwedel suffers concussion after controversial hit". sportsnet.ca. May 20, 2017. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  23. ^ "Chad Ruhwedel starts Penguins' Cup tour in San Diego". NHL.com. June 30, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  24. ^ "Penguins Re-Sign Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a Two-Year Contract". NHL.com. June 22, 2017. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  25. ^ "Penguins Re-Sign Chad Ruhwedel to a Two-Year Contract Extension". NHL.com. February 19, 2022. Archived from the original on March 16, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  26. ^ "Rangers Acquire Chad Ruhwedel". NHL.com. March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
  27. ^ Powers, DJ (April 13, 2013). "2013 Frozen Four: Ruhwedel's long hockey path leads to Lowell, then Buffalo". hockeysfuture.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2018. , which can be traced back to his roller hockey days at Scripps Ranch High School, his alma mater.
  28. ^ "2013–14 Hockey East Media Guide". Hockey East. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2014.
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