The Rangers acquired right-shot defenseman Chad Ruhwedel from the Penguins for a 2027 fourth-round pick, per a team announcement.
Ruhwedel, 33, was an undrafted free agent signing by the Sabres in 2012 and remained in the organization as a depth option for four years until landing with Pittsburgh in free agency in 2016, where he’s remained as a bottom-pairing/press box fixture since. He logged 28 AHL games in his first campaign with the Penguins but has not been assigned to the minors on a full-time basis since, save for a five-game stint in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 2018-19.
The San Diego native has played more than 50 games in a season just once but may do so this year with 47 already under his belt. A pending UFA with an $800K cap hit, Ruhwedel had one goal, three assists, four points and a -4 rating while logging 12:33 per game, competing for limited minutes among a crowded group of depth defenders in Pittsburgh.
Ruhwedel has had middling possession numbers with a 48.0 CF% at even strength and a 46.5 xGF%, but he’s also received some of the most taxing defensive-zone usage in the league with a 74.5 defensive zone start rate at even strength. He’s able to slot in on the penalty kill, too, where he’s averaged around two minutes per game.
It’s a solid piece of work for Rangers GM Chris Drury to add a capable penalty killer to serve as injury insurance down the stretch and in the postseason. Ruhwedel was scoreless with a -3 rating in 25 postseason games with Pittsburgh, including six games in 2017 that got his name engraved on the Stanley Cup. The Rangers still have $2.1MM in cap space ahead of the 2 p.m. CT deadline.
Pre move for a bigger trade that includes Jones or Schneider and a #1
Frankie v for kakko
Thats an awful trade.
It has been floated Henrique and vatrano for kakko and a first round rangers declined. Ducks got a first round now so I would think it’s still on table.
So if you take out Henrique and the 1st, it was probably the other part that the Rangers were skeptical of. The main cause for concern with Vatrano is reliance on a big role and an unsustainable shooting percentage to produce at the level he has.
At this point probably the best player available, he’s a consistent 25 goal scorer that’s having a good year on a decent contract. Kakko is still young enough that he might be able to touch that. Obviously your buying the next year and a half still think it makes sense for both sides. Ducks need someone on the third line
Vatrano is not a consistent 25 goal scorer. This is the first year he’s reached that number. Are you aware last year Vatrano scored 1 more point than Kakko while playing 1 minute and half more per game. He also had much more pp time. His cap hit is 1.4 million more and has another year on his contract. If the Rangers want a winger, go for it by trying to get Buchnevich. He is worth the number 1
Okay your right. I was a little liberal on my projections but that’s about right with trades you have to overpay, do you think monahan was worth a late first rounder, that’s pretty much what kakko is even though he was drafted 2nd overall and vatrano has 29 goals. Just saying next year he should be able to repeat 25, and on a decent contract.
Dubas getting anything more than a large nachos for Ruhwedel is a win in my book.
Rangers can’t/couldn’t afford to move a dman out because of Trouba.