Rutta, a native of the Czech Republic, spent seven seasons playing in his home country before signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on June 7, 2017.
The 27-year-old defenseman made the team out of training camp and scored his first NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 9, 2017, beating goalie Frederik Andersen. The Blackhawks were impressed enough with his performance to sign him to a one-year contract on March 8, 2018.
Rutta, a native of the Czech Republic, spent seven seasons playing in his home country before signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks on June 7, 2017.
The 27-year-old defenseman made the team out of training camp and scored his first NHL goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 9, 2017, beating goalie Frederik Andersen. The Blackhawks were impressed enough with his performance to sign him to a one-year contract on March 8, 2018.
Rutta finished his first NHL season with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 57 games. He averaged 19:15 of ice time, sixth on the Blackhawks and fourth among Chicago's defensemen.
The Blackhawks traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Jan. 11, 2019, and he worked his way into a regular role, often playing alongside Victor Hedman. Injuries plagued him during the 2019-20 season, but he returned for the last four games of the Stanley Cup Final, helping the Lightning defeat the Dallas Stars in six games for their second championship since entering the NHL in 1992.
NOTES & TRANSACTIONS
- Signed as a free agent by Chicago, June 7, 2017.
- Traded to Tampa Bay by Chicago with Chicago's 7th-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft for Slater Koekkoek and Tampa Bay's 5th-round pick in 2019 NHL Draft, January 11, 2019.
