Penguins sign defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to contract extension

The Penguins signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a one-year contract extension Friday.

This deal will cover the 2021-22 season and carries a salary cap hit of $750,000.

Ruhwedel, 30, is entering the final year of a two-year contract with a salary cap hit of $700,000.

A member of the Penguins for the past four seasons, Ruhwedel has been a reliable entity on the Penguins’ blue line, even if he’s been rarely deployed.

In 41 games during the 2019-20 regular season, he recorded six points (two goals, four assists) while averaging 14 minutes, 46 seconds of ice time.

Primarily serving as a seventh defensemen throughout his tenure with the franchise, Ruhwedel (5-foot-11, 181 pounds) was a healthy scratch for 32 games in 2019-20, including all four of the Penguins’ postseason games earlier this month.

“Chad is a reliable, depth defenseman who is a great teammate,” general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “He keeps himself in great shape and is always game-ready, which is important for a player in his role and the success of our team.”

With fellow right-handed defenseman Justin Schultz expected to depart this upcoming offseason, Ruhwedel could be in line for a promotion of sorts and replace Schultz on the team’s third defensive pairing.

A native of San Diego, Ruhwedel has appeared in 137 career regular season games for the Penguins and scored 23 points (seven goals, 16 assists). He was a member of the franchise’s Stanley Cup championship in 2017, and made his NHL debut in Game 6 of the second round series against the Capitals.

Ruhwedel has played in 18 career postseason contests, including 12 in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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