On Thursday, the New York Rangers put defenseman on waivers, allowing all 31 NHL teams the chance to claim him.
If he clears waivers, he can be sent to the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, marking his first stint in the minors since the 2018-19 season.
So far in the 2024-25 season, the defenseman has played just one game for the Rangers, which was on October 19 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. In that game, he logged 14:04 of ice time over 17 shifts and finished with a +2 rating in the team’s 4-1 victory. This was his first NHL appearance since March 28 of the previous season.
Originally from San Diego, California, Ruhwedel joined the Rangers last season after being traded from the Pittsburgh Penguins just before the trade deadline for a fourth-round pick in 2027. He played five games for New York after the trade. Over the 2023-24 season, he participated in 52 games, scoring one goal and totaling four points, with his last point being an assist on February 20 against the New York Islanders.
In July, Ruhwedel signed a one-year contract extension with the Rangers, which has an NHL cap hit of $775,000.
Ruhwedel is now with his third NHL team. After going undrafted out of Massachusetts-Lowell, he signed with the Buffalo Sabres in April 2013. He spent over three seasons in Buffalo before moving to the Penguins in July 2016, where he played for more than seven years.
Throughout his 13-season career, Ruhwedel has played in 365 NHL games, recording 13 goals and 36 assists for a total of 49 points with a -7 rating. He has yet to compete in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In the AHL, he has played 211 games, tallying 29 goals and 82 assists for 111 points.
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