35-Year-Old Longtime NHLer Unexpectedly Leaves the League to Sign in Switzerland
Photo credit: Hokej.cz
The NHL career of former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman appears over, as he's signed a contract with Genève-Servette in the Swiss National League.
It looks like former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta has reached the end of the road in his NHL career, as he's signed a contract with Genève-Servette in the Swiss National League.
Per a report from Blick, their sporting director wanted several imported players on his team.
Sporting director Marc Gautschi has always said he wants to start the next championship with seven imported players. Jan Rutta would complete the defense with Finnish forward Vili Saarijärvi. Up front, the Eagles will have Finnish players Sakari Manninen, Markus Granlund, and Jesse Pululjärvi, along with American Jimmy Vesey and Canadian Talyor Beck.
Rutta played many years of hockey in Czechia with multiple clubs before making his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017.
Jan Rutta Doesn't Get an NHL Offer, Opts to Sign in Switzerland
Rutta was never drafted into the NHL and signed an entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he would play along with their AHL affiliate Rockford Ice Hogs, until being waived and then eventually traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Slater Koekkoek.
Rutta would then win the Stanley Cup twice with the Lightning, but would later sign a 3 year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2022. Eventually, he was traded to the San Jose Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade.
He had 93 points (23G, 75A) in 417 NHL games.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 20 | 484 ANSWERS 35-Year-Old Longtime NHLer Unexpectedly Leaves the League to Sign in Switzerland Is the NHL career of Jan Rutta over? | ||
| Yes | 400 | 82.6 % |
| No | 84 | 17.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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