Blackhawks sign Czech defenseman Jan Rutta
The Blackhawks signed defenseman Jan Rutta on Tuesday to a one-year contract.
Rutta, who will turn 27 in July and is a native of Pisek, Czech Republic, played for Czech Extraliga's Pirati Chomutov last season and recorded 8 goals and 24 assists in 46 games. The 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman had a career-best 10 goals the season before.
"Jan has been on our radar for a number of years and he has shown great progress on the ice during that time," said general manager Stan Bowman in a statement. "His addition to the organization makes our defense more dynamic and he has shown he can contribute offensively as well."
The Hawks are said to be in talks with Vegas that would allow Vegas to take Trevor van Riemsdyk in the expansion draft on June 21 if the Golden Knights also agree to trade for Marcus Kruger. If the Hawks lose van Riemsdyk, they may enter next season with a defensive corps that revolves around Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Gustav Forsling, Michal Kempny, Michal Rozsival and Rutta. Erik Gustafsson, a restricted free agent who spent all of last season in Rockford, should also figure into the mix.
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