*Photo from NHL.com*
Needing to bulk up on defense, the Pittsburgh Penguins went after some winning experience. The Penguins and D Jan Rutta have agreed to a 3 year, $8.25 million deal with a $2.75 million AAV, according to the team.
By bringing in Rutta, he serves essentially as a replacement for John Marino, now on the New Jersey Devils. They are both right shot D who can play on the top 4 when needed. The difference is that Rutta is less of a point scorer and more of a rugged, physical, checking defenseman that brings Stanley Cup experience, despite a crowded core of defensemen in Pittsburgh.
Penguins GM Ron Hextall said that "We like our nine defensemen, and we'll kind of wait and see how things play out, if we go to camp with nine. We feel very good about the depth. Obviously, we'll look at everything that comes along as we go, and if we can strengthen one area, we'll certainly look at it."
Last season, Rutta tallied 3 goals and 15 assists, posting a +25 plus/minus rating in 16:23 of ice time in 76 regular season games for the Lightning. Rutta added one goal and dished out 4 assists in 17 playoff games for the Lightning.
In his NHL career, spanning 5 seasons with the Lightning and Chicago Blackhawks, Rutta has 12 goals and 49 assists, averaging 16:47 of ice time per game with a +46 plus/minus rating in 238 games. He has an additional 3 goals and 8 assists in 49 career playoff games.
Hextall talked specifically about bringing aboard Rutta, saying that "We feel like it's a good addition to our team, and we feel like we kind of added a little bit of the girth that we feel like we need in front of the net and in penalty killing situations."
The signing of Rutta continues a series of moves on defense for the Penguins this offseason. Out of town are Marino and Mike Matheson, and in are Rutta, Jeff Petry, and Ty Smith.
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