Blackhawks sign Czech defenseman Jan Rutta to 1-year deal
The Chicago Blackhawks signed defenseman Jan Rutta to a one-year contract, the club announced Wednesday.
"Jan has been on our radar for a number of years and he has shown great progress on the ice during that time," general manager Stan Bowman said. "His addition to the organization makes our defense more dynamic and he has shown he can contribute offensively as well."
Rutta was reportedly fielding multiple NHL offers after suiting up for his native Czech Republic at the World Championship in May.
The 26-year-old is listed at 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, and is a right-handed shot. He's spent the last four seasons with Chomutov Pirati of the Czech league, netting a career-high 32 points in 46 games in 2016-17.
Rutta's deal with Chicago is the latest instance this offseason of an NHL club dipping into the European market for blue line help. The Toronto Maple Leafs gave entry-level contracts to Swedish defenseman Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman last month, while the Vancouver Canucks lured 25-year-old Philip Holm on a one-year agreement in May.