Chad Ruhwedel Explained

Chad Ruhwedel
Birth Date:7 May 1990
Birth Place:San Diego, California, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lb:188
Position:Defense
Shoots:Right
League:NHL
Team:New York Rangers
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2013

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

Amateur

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

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 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

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

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

Personal life

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

Team League GP GP G A Pts PIM
2007–08Los Angeles Jr. Kings18U AAA
2008–09Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL55011113040114
2009–10Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL58517225530112
2010–11UMass Lowell River HawksHE322131510
2011–12UMass Lowell River HawksHE376192526
2012–13UMass Lowell River HawksHE417162320
2012–13Buffalo SabresNHL70000
2013–14Rochester AmericansAHL47424282252354
2013–14Buffalo SabresNHL210112
2014–15Rochester AmericansAHL7210263622
2014–15Buffalo SabresNHL40110
2015–16Rochester AmericansAHL5910162626
2015–16Buffalo SabresNHL10002
2016–17Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL284121612
2016–17Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL342810860004
2017–18Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL4423516120002
2018–19Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL181124
2018–19Wilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsAHL51452
2019–20Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL4124612
2020–21Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL1702214
2021–22Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL7849131470000
2022–23Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL4714518
2023–24Pittsburgh PenguinsNHL471344
2023–24New York RangersNHL50000
NHL totals 36413364994250006

Awards and honors

AwardYearRef
USHL
All-Star Game2010
College
Hockey East First Team2013
AHCA East First-Team All-American2013
Hockey East All-Tournament Team2013[28]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: San Diego product shining on ice for UMass Lowell. December 27, 2011. March 9, 2018. March 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180309182907/http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_19624561. live.
  2. Web site: HockeyEastOnline.com – 100 STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED ON LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM. www.hockeyeastonline.com.
  3. Web site: HockeyEastOnline.com – 100 STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED ON LEAGUE ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM. www.hockeyeastonline.com.
  4. Web site: HockeyEastOnline.com – HOCKEY EAST ANNOUNCES 2011–2012 ALL-STAR TEAMS. www.hockeyeastonline.com. March 9, 2018. May 10, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130510194355/http://hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1112/201203/mar15as.php. dead.
  5. Web site: HockeyEastOnline.com – Press Releases. www.hockeyeastonline.com. March 9, 2018. March 25, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130325102024/http://www.hockeyeastonline.com/men/pres1213/201303/mar21as.php. dead.
  6. Web site: UMass Lowell's Ruhwedel Named to AHCA/CCM All-America First Team. University of Massachusetts Lowell. April 12, 2013 . March 9, 2018. March 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120410/http://www.goriverhawks.com/news/2013/4/12/MICE_0412132209.aspx?path=mhockey. live.
  7. Web site: New England Hockey Writers honor best men, women of '12–13 at all levels. April 2, 2013. March 9, 2018. April 17, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210417134852/https://www.uscho.com/2013/04/02/new-england-hockey-writers-honor-best-men-women-of-12-13-at-all-levels/. live.
  8. Web site: SABRES SIGN DEFENSEMAN CHAD RUHWEDEL . National Hockey League . December 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130606133249/http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=665608 . June 6, 2013 . April 13, 2013.
  9. Web site: Enroth stops 29 shots, Ehrhoff scores in Sabres' 1–0 win over slumping Flyers. Fox News. April 13, 2013. March 9, 2018. June 23, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180623033208/http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/04/13/enroth-stops-2-shots-ehrhoff-scores-in-sabres-1-0-win-over-slumping-flyers.html. live.
  10. News: Mansfield . Aaron . Ruhwedel in Sabres' defensive traffic jam . December 12, 2023 . Buffalo News . July 20, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130911142235/https://buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article/?AID=/20130720/SPORTS/130729846/1104 . September 11, 2013.
  11. News: Oklobzija . Kevin . Amerks' leadership core on the way from Sabres . December 12, 2023 . . September 23, 2013.
  12. News: Oklobzija . Kevin . Amerks' Chad Ruhwedel never gave up on dream . December 12, 2023 . Democrat and Chronicle . November 8, 2013.
  13. Web site: SABRES SHUFFLE ROSTER BY RECALLING PORTER, RUHWEDEL FROM AHL ROCHESTER AND DEMOTING 3 . The Hockey News . December 12, 2023 . December 17, 2013.
  14. News: Oklobzija . Kevin . Mark Pysyk not surprised by reassignment to Amerks . December 12, 2023 . Democrat and Chronicle . December 17, 2013.
  15. Web site: BUFFALO SABRES SEND ROOKIE D MARK PYSYK TO ROCHESTER; PROMOTE D CHAD RUHWEDEL FROM AHL CLUB . The Hockey News . December 12, 2023 . January 2, 2014.
  16. Web site: Sabres recall Ruhwedel after injury to Sulzer . Sportsnet . December 12, 2023 . March 8, 2014.
  17. NHL. 452252473949163520. April 4, 2014. Chad Ruhwedel (@chad5ruhwedel) of the @BuffaloSabres earned his first NHL point on this great shot from @jbain4.. https://web.archive.org/web/20231213051121/https://twitter.com/NHL/status/452252473949163520. December 13, 2023.
  18. Web site: Sabres' Ruhwedel done for year after head hit . Sportsnet . December 12, 2023 . April 7, 2014.
  19. Web site: Sabres re-sign Ruhwedel to two-year contract . Sportsnet . December 12, 2023 . July 16, 2014.
  20. Web site: Penguins sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel . . 2016-07-01 . 2016-07-01 . July 4, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160704052745/http://penguins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=888166 . live .
  21. Web site: McDermott. Bryanna. Snap Shots: Penguins 4, Devils 1. NHL.com. March 11, 2018. December 23, 2016. December 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231213040548/https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-vs-devils-snap-shots-285026380. live.
  22. Web site: Penguins' Ruhwedel suffers concussion after controversial hit. sportsnet.ca. March 11, 2018. May 20, 2017. March 12, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180312091916/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/penguins-ruhwedel-suffers-concussion-controversial-hit/. live.
  23. Web site: Chad Ruhwedel starts Penguins' Cup tour in San Diego. NHL.com. March 11, 2018. June 30, 2017. August 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808153807/https://www.nhl.com/news/chad-ruhwedel-pittsburgh-penguins-summer-with-stanley-cup/c-290246962. live.
  24. Web site: Penguins Re-Sign Defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a Two-Year Contract. NHL.com. March 11, 2018. June 22, 2017. August 8, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808153807/https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/pens-sign-ruhwedel/c-290070044. live.
  25. Web site: February 19, 2022 . Penguins Re-Sign Chad Ruhwedel to a Two-Year Contract Extension . February 28, 2022 . NHL.com . March 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220316121928/https://www.nhl.com/penguins/news/penguins-re-sign-chad-ruhwedel-to-a-two-year-contract-extension/c-330982656 . live .
  26. Web site: Rangers Acquire Chad Ruhwedel . NHL.com . March 9, 2024 . March 8, 2024.
  27. Web site: Powers. DJ. 2013 Frozen Four: Ruhwedel's long hockey path leads to Lowell, then Buffalo. hockeysfuture.com. March 11, 2018. April 13, 2013., which can be traced back to his roller hockey days at Scripps Ranch High School, his alma mater.. June 1, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130601001506/http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/88653/frozen-four-2013-ruhwedels-long-hockey-path-leads-to-lowell-then-buffalo/. live.
  28. News: 2013–14 Hockey East Media Guide. Hockey East. 2014-05-19. October 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181018101055/https://issuu.com/hockeyeast/docs/1314heamguide. live.