Rangers sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to one-year, two-way deal

The Rangers have signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a one-year contract, president and general manager Chris Drury announced Friday.

Ruhwedel’s two-way deal with New York will be worth $775,000 at the NHL level ($400,000 at the AHL, with $450,000 guaranteed.)

The Blueshirts acquired the 34-year-old defenseman in a trade deadline with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He did not tally a point in the five regular-season games after the trade while continuity seven bocks and 15 hits. Ruhwedel was a minus-2 while averaging 14:08 time on the ice.

In 47 games with Pittsburgh, the 12-year NHL veteran tallied four points (one goal, three assists), 37 blocks and 75 hits and was a minus-4 while averaging 12:33 time on the ice.

While Ruhwedel did not appear for the Rangers during the Stanley Cup playoffs, he played in six playoff games with the Penguins during their 2017 Stanley Cup-winning run. He is a minus-3 in 25 career postseason games while averaging 14:35 time on the ice.

Ruhwedel, 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, broke into the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2012-13 season. After four seasons in the Buffalo organization, he spent the next seven seasons in Pittsburgh.

Over 326 career games, he has added 49 points (13 goals and 36 assists) and is a minus-9 while averaging 15:08 time on the ice.

He posted career-highs in 2021-22, for games played (78), goals (4), assists (9), points (13), shots (82), hits (149), and blocked shots (86).