JAN RUTTA - Defenseman - 29 - $1.30MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2020-2021
LAST UPDATED 8/20/19
Jan Rutta was a pretty smart signing a few years ago for the cap-strapped Chicago Blackhawks. He was an experienced defenseman at the professional level, anchoring the defense for Chomutov Pirati of the Czech Extraliga. He at the very least would be a safe professional defenseman, and he proved to be exactly that with some added offensive flair in his 80 games with the Blackhawks. He provided cheap roster filler for a team that desperately needed it, and he's set to do the same thing on the stacked Tampa Bay Lightning. Rutta isn't the most flashy defenseman, and he certainly isn't a minutes-eater. Instead, Rutta brings some size and mobility from the back end, and can help out with zone exits. He can produce very well at the AHL level, and has had moderate offensive success when he's given ice time at the NHL level. I don't think he has the puck skills or shot to be a 30-40 point defenseman, but with a high volume of offensive chances he might get there, though that's not going to come in Tampa. Rutta is a safe defenseman in his own end. He tries to limit mistakes and can skate well enough to not get beat by speedier forwards. But Rutta struggles with the urgency and coverage skills needed to play a high-end NHL defensive game, and as a result is a liability on the penalty kill. He'll probably be Tampa's spare defenseman next season, and that's a good role for him. He brings energy, some speed, and offensive skill to the blueline, and that combined with decent but not incredible defensive play makes him a good #7 to have.
Jan Rutta was a pretty smart signing a few years ago for the cap-strapped Chicago Blackhawks. He was an experienced defenseman at the professional level, anchoring the defense for Chomutov Pirati of the Czech Extraliga. He at the very least would be a safe professional defenseman, and he proved to be exactly that with some added offensive flair in his 80 games with the Blackhawks. He provided cheap roster filler for a team that desperately needed it, and he's set to do the same thing on the stacked Tampa Bay Lightning. Rutta isn't the most flashy defenseman, and he certainly isn't a minutes-eater. Instead, Rutta brings some size and mobility from the back end, and can help out with zone exits. He can produce very well at the AHL level, and has had moderate offensive success when he's given ice time at the NHL level. I don't think he has the puck skills or shot to be a 30-40 point defenseman, but with a high volume of offensive chances he might get there, though that's not going to come in Tampa. Rutta is a safe defenseman in his own end. He tries to limit mistakes and can skate well enough to not get beat by speedier forwards. But Rutta struggles with the urgency and coverage skills needed to play a high-end NHL defensive game, and as a result is a liability on the penalty kill. He'll probably be Tampa's spare defenseman next season, and that's a good role for him. He brings energy, some speed, and offensive skill to the blueline, and that combined with decent but not incredible defensive play makes him a good #7 to have.
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