Jan Rutta

Wikipedia

Jan Rutta
Jan Rutta and Eeli Tolvanen in November 2023
Born (1990-07-29) 29 July 1990 (age 35)
Písek, Czechoslovakia
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 204 lb (93 kg; 14 st 8 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NL team
Former teams
Genève-Servette HC
Piráti Chomutov
Chicago Blackhawks
Tampa Bay Lightning
Pittsburgh Penguins
San Jose Sharks
National team  Czech Republic
NHL draft Undrafted
Playing career 2008present

Jan Rutta (born 29 July 1990) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing with Genève-Servette HC of the National League (NL). Originally an undrafted player, he won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. Rutta has also previously played for the Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks.

Playing career

Rutta made his Czech Extraliga debut playing with Piráti Chomutov debut during the 2012–13 Czech Extraliga season.[1]

After seven seasons with Chomutov, Rutta left the Czech Republic in signing a one-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL on 8 June 2017.[2] After attending his first training camp with the Blackhawks, Rutta made the opening night roster for the 2017–18 season. On 9 October, Rutta scored his first NHL goal against goaltender Frederik Andersen in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.[3] Rutta secured a blueline role within the Blackhawks during the season, and on 8 March 2018, was signed to a one-year $2.25 million extension.[4] With the Blackhawks missing the postseason, Rutta appeared in 57 games while adding offensively with six goals and 14 assists for 20 points.

In the following the 2018–19 season, with the Blackhawks continuing to struggle out of the gate, Rutta was placed on waivers after contributing with two goals and six points in 23 games on 23 December 2018.[5] After clearing he was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs. On 11 January 2019, Rutta was traded by the Blackhawks, along with a 2019 seventh-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Slater Koekkoek and a 2019 fifth-round pick. He was slated to continue in the AHL with the Lightning's affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.[6] On 9 March, Rutta made his debut with the Lightning in a 3–2 win over the Detroit Red Wings at Amalie Arena.[7] He played out the tail end of the regular season with the League leading Lightning, posting 2 assists in 14 games. He maintained his place in the lineup through the playoffs, recording 2 assists in a four-game series sweep defeat to the Columbus Blue Jackets. On 4 May, Rutta was re-signed to a one-year, $1.3 million contract extension to continue with the Lightning.[8]

During the 2020–21 season, on 15 June 2021, Rutta scored his first career NHL playoff goal in the Lightning's 4–2 win against the New York Islanders.[9]

Following four seasons within the Lightning organization, Rutta left as a free agent and was signed to a three-year, $8.25 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on 13 July 2022.[10]

After just one season in Pittsburgh, Rutta was traded to the San Jose Sharks on 6 August 2023, as part of a three-team package deal for Erik Karlsson.[11]

Following eight NHL seasons, on 25 August 2025, Rutta left North America as a free agent and was signed to a two-year contract with Genève-Servette HC of the Swiss NL.[12]

International play

Medal record
Representing  Czech Republic
Ice hockey
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2024 Czechia

Rutta represented Czechia at the 2024 IIHF World Championship and won a gold medal.[13]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2008–09 KLH Chomutov Czech.1 20000
2008–09 SK Kadaň Czech.1 20000
2008–09 IHC Písek Czech.2 20000
2009–10 SK Kadaň Czech.1 181450 90330
2009–10 HC Klašterec nad Ohři Czech.2 30110 50004
2010–11 KLH Chomutov Czech.1 2400010
2011–12 Piráti Chomutov Czech.1 4826816 121456
2012–13 Piráti Chomutov ELH 3713418
2012–13 SK Kadaň Czech.1 70330
2013–14 Piráti Chomutov ELH 171234
2013–14 SK Kadaň Czech.1 181348
2014–15 Piráti Chomutov Czech.1 5011162728 22571246
2015–16 Piráti Chomutov ELH 4410112122 71238
2016–17 Piráti Chomutov ELH 468243230 17211138
2017–18 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 576142024
2018–19 Chicago Blackhawks NHL 2324612
2018–19 Rockford IceHogs AHL 81342
2018–19 Syracuse Crunch AHL 1835810
2018–19 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 140224 40220
2019–20 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 3316714 501112
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 3508822 232138
2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 763151847 1714517
2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 5636930
2023–24 San Jose Sharks NHL 695141938
2024–25 San Jose Sharks NHL 5436928
ELH totals 14420406074 243131616
NHL totals 417237598219 49381137

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2008 Czech Republic U18-D1 11th 50000
2017 Czech Republic WC 7th 81010
2019 Czech Republic WC 4th 101234
2024 Czechia WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 91018
Junior totals 50000
Senior totals 2732512

Awards and honors

Award Year Ref
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2020, 2021 [14]

References

  1. "KLH Chomutov 2012–13 player statistics". eliteprospects.com. 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  2. "Blackhawks agree to terms with Jan Rutta". Chicago Blackhawks. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
  3. "Game notes: Oct. 9 at Toronto Maple Leafs". NHL.com. 9 October 2017. Archived from the original on 5 July 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  4. "Blackhawks agree to extension with Rutta". NHL.com. 8 March 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  5. "Blackhawks' Jan Rutta placed on waivers". CBS Sports. 23 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. "Rutta traded to Lightning from Blackhawks for Koekkoek". National Hockey League. 11 January 2019. Archived from the original on 12 January 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  7. "Kucherov powers Lightning past Red Wings 3–2". Fox 17: Western Michigan. 9 March 2019. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  8. "Lightning re-sign defenseman Jan Rutta to one-year contract". Tampa Bay Lightning. 4 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  9. "Lightning's Jan Rutta: Nabs first career playoff goal". CBSSports.com. 15 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  10. "Penguins sign defenseman Jan Rutta". Pittsburgh Penguins. 13 July 2022. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  11. Satriano, David (6 August 2023). "Karlsson goes to Penguins in 3-team trade with Sharks, Canadiens". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  12. Genève-Servette HC (25 August 2025). "Jan Rutta débarque au GSHC" (in French). gshc.ch. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  13. "Czechs strike gold on home ice". IIHF.com. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
  14. "Tampa Bay Lightning win Stanley Cup in Pandemic Bubble". New York Times. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 28 September 2020.