The NHL offseason continues to deliver major headlines in the player movement market, and now a well-known defenseman, a Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning who also shared a locker room with Pittsburgh Penguins legend Sidney Crosby, will continue his career far away from the league.
Closing a chapter after a long career is never an easy decision, but many European players come to the league aiming to fulfill medium-term dreams, such as lifting the Stanley Cup or playing alongside Crosby, one of the game’s greatest icons.
This defenseman was part of the Lightning during their championship runs in 2020 and 2021, being a standout piece in the roster. However, the latest team losing this experienced presence is none other than the San Jose Sharks.
Who is leaving the NHL for Swiss hockey?
The former Penguins blueliner departing the league is none other than 35-year-old Czech veteran Jan Rutta, who is set to leave the NHL and sign with Genève-Servette HC in Switzerland’s National League, according to Swiss outlet Blick. Contract details remain undisclosed, but the deal is reportedly for one season.
Rutta most recently played for the San Jose Sharks and has built valuable NHL experience with the Lightning, where he captured back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, as well as stints with the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rutta’s numbers in the NHL
Rutta signed his first NHL contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2017–18 season, later adding AHL experience before making his mark in Tampa Bay, where he spent four seasons. He joined Crosby and the Penguins in 2022–23, appearing in 56 games. His latest stop was in San Jose before heading back to the European circuit.