Penguins A to Z: Can Chad Ruhwedel finally be a regular part of the lineup?

With the Penguins in the midst of their offseason, the Tribune-Review is looking at all 48 players currently under NHL contracts to the organization in alphabetical order, from mid-level prospect Niclas Almari to top-six winger Jason Zucker.

Chad Ruhwedel

Position: Defenseman

Shoots: Right

Age: 31

Height: 5-foot-11

Weight: 191 pounds

2020-21 NHL statistics: 17 games, two points (zero goals, two assists)

Contract: Second year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000.

(Note: On Aug. 28, 2020, Ruhwedel signed a one-year contract extension with a salary cap hit of $750,000 for the 2021-22 season. He is a pending unrestricted free agent in 2022.)

Acquired: Unrestricted free agent signing, July 1, 2016

2020-21 season: Last offseason, Chad Ruhwedel appeared to be in line to finally break into the Penguins’ lineup on a regular basis instead of being used as an occasional fill-in.

Fellow right-handed defenseman Justin Schultz left town as an unrestricted free agent and that appeared to open up a spot on the bottom defensive pairing for Ruhwedel. A contract extension for the 2021-22 season only appeared to galvanize management’s faith in the reliable and ready Ruhwedel.

But then in October, the Penguins signed Cody Ceci, a fellow right-handed defenseman, to a one-year deal and that created a crowded situation on the Penguins’ blue line and put Ruhwedel back on the outside looking in with regards to the lineup.

After serving a healthy scratch in the season opener on Jan. 13, Ruhwedel dressed two nights later and was in the lineup for 12 consecutive games due to an outbreak of injuries to fellow defensemen including Brian Dumoulin, Kris Letang, Mike Matheson, Marcus Pettersson and Juuso Riikola.

Things were so bad for the Penguins with regards to able-bodied defensemen that Ruhwedel even had to play the left side of the second pairing for a spell.

The “highlight” of Ruhwedel’s season came during a 3-1 road loss to the New York Rangers when he recorded the primary assist on a goal by forward Jason Zucker by banking a puck off the end boards.

Ruhwedel was a healthy scratch again by Feb. 16 and sat for 12 consecutive games. After defenseman John Marino suffered an undisclosed injury March 9, Ruhwedel was back in the lineup for a four-game stretch.

Following another stretch of healthy scratches — this time, 26 games — Ruhwedel dressed for the season finale on May 8.

In the postseason, Ruhwedel was scratched for all six games of the Penguins’ first-round postseason loss to the New York Islanders.

The future: Ruhwedel was left exposed for Wednesday’s expansion draft, but it’s unlikely the Seattle Kraken will select him given some of the better options available.

Assuming he remains a member of the Penguins heading into 2021-22, Ruhwedel certainly appears to be a candidate to claim a steady spot in the lineup. With Ceci improving his stock as a pending unrestricted free agent following a strong season and potentially signing elsewhere, there could be a hole on the starboard side of the Penguins’ defense.

Making a little more than league mininum, Ruhwedel offers a safe — if bland — style that fits within the confines of the Penguins’ typically agressive attack.

It won’t be easy for Ruhwedel to claim that role. (It never is.) Fellow right-handed defenseman Mark Friedman made an impact and showed some promise upon his midseason arrival via waivers. And he’s a favorite of general manager Ron Hextall from their time with the Philadelphia Flyers.

Plus, the possibility of signing another right-handed defenseman is very real. Though, given the Penguins’ limited salary cap space, they will likely devote their limited financial flexibility to other areas of need.

Regardless, Ruhwedel might have a legitimate chance to be a regular part of the lineup for the first time in his half decade with the Penguins.

Follow the Penguins all season long.