The New York Rangers have re-signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a one-year contract, as announced by general manager Chris Drury on July 12, 2024. This move adds competition for 23-year-old Zac Jones for a spot on the team’s third defensive pairing, though contract terms were not disclosed.
Ruhwedel joined the Rangers from Pittsburgh in early March and played five games as the team reached the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to the Florida Panthers, the eventual Stanley Cup champions. He ended the season with one goal, three assists, 90 hits, and 44 blocked shots over 52 games.
The Rangers recently lost veteran Erik Gustafsson to the Detroit Red Wings in free agency, while restricted free agents Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider are still in negotiations. Last season, Jones played a career-high 31 games, recording two goals and seven assists while stepping up during the absences of Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba. K’Andre Miller also remains a starter on the defense.
Ruhwedel, 34, has played in 364 NHL games and won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2017. He was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Sabres in 2013 after a three-year stint at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.
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