When I heard the announcement on the nightly news last summer that the Penguins had signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel, I confess that I mistakenly thought the sports anchor pronounced his name “root weevil.” As in the detestable garden pest.
I soon learned the Pens’ newest d-man hailed from a strange spot for a hockey player, too. Southern California. Hardly a breeding ground for future NHL stars.
While Ruhwedel may boast of an unusual surname and origins, there’s been nothing offbeat about his play since he was summoned from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on December 17 in the wake of a crippling rash of injuries to the Penguins’ defense.
Thus far, Chad’s been equal parts efficient and effective. Kind of a poor man’s Justin Schultz. Harkening back to his college days, when he and current Pens teammate Scott Wilson paced UMass-Lowell to a berth in the 2013 Frozen Four.
A smooth skater and underrated passer, Ruhwedel actually started out as a forward before switching to defense in Pee Wee. Needless to say, the former First-Team All-American’s fit snuggly into the Pens’ puck-possession scheme. One that emphasizes mobility, smarts and puck movement from the defense, rather than brawn and physical play.
Through five games with the Pens (all victories), Ruhwedel’s more than held his own. He tallied his first NHL goal against New Jersey on December 23. Followed by his first black-and-gold assist the very next game, a pretty outlet pass that sprang Carl Hagelin for a spectacular breakaway goal.
In his own end, Chad’s displayed sound positioning and good gap control, along with a cool demeanor. He rarely seems to wind up on the wrong side of the puck. Attributes that served him well through a stellar collegiate career and three productive pro seasons, including 33 games with Buffalo from 2013 to 2016.
Ruhwedel’s success hasn’t come as a surprise to Pens coach Mike Sullivan, who lauded the 5’11” 191-pounder in a recent interview with Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“Chad’s a very good player,” Sullivan said of the nimble righthanded shot. “He’s a mobile guy. He’s a good puck mover. He’s another one of those players that we have as part of the depth of our organization that we know can help us win games.”
Passed over in the Entry Draft because of his size, Ruhwedel signed a two-year contract with Buffalo on April 13, 2013. A scant two days after UMass-Lowell was eliminated from the NCAA Tournament, ironically at CONSOL Energy Center. Joining the Sabres that night, he skated in seven games for the navy blue and gold down the homestretch.
Ruhwedel spent most of the next three years in the AHL, honing his skills and adjusting to the rigors of the pro game, sandwiched around stints with the Sabres. After netting 10 goals in each of the past two seasons with Rochester, the 26-year-old defenseman was courted by Pens GM Jim Rutherford, who inked the San Diego native to a one-year deal on July 1.
A move that’s clearly reaped dividends.
Hey Rick,
To me, the Ruhwedel signing was below my radar. I saw it but passed it off as something for WBS. Thankfully I was wrong.
I can’t help but wonder if he may not have the kind of success he has been having elsewhere (not that he is a statistical Letang or Schultz look a like). It seems to me that Sullivan and his henchmen find a way to bring out the best in everyone they are associated with and find a way to put them into a position where they can succeed.
Well said, Other Rick.
Especially your observations about Mike Sullivan. Not only does he have a keen eye for talent, but he has an uncanny ability to use players in a way that gives them the best chance to succeed.
Case in point. Earlier this season Scott Wilson appeared tentative and out of sync in a top-six role. Since Sully moved him to the fourth line? He’s flourished. He looks much more comfortable, and his natural speed and feistiness have really begun to emerge. Used properly, he’s become an asset, rather than a liability.
I also give Jim Rutherford and his staff high marks as well. They’ve done a terrific job of identifying and signing players who can plug gaps and be contributors here. Under-the-radar guys like Ruhwedel and Steve Oleksy. Not to mention regulars like Bonino, Cullen, Daley, Fehr, Hagelin and Schultz.
Rick
PS–Forgot to mention Kessel … 🙂
Hey Rick
Spot on!
Wilson did look like he was struggling when out there in the top 6 but really has come on as serious, furious checking foward. He brings a lot of energy to the ice.
I also like your point about JR; kudos to him in assembling this team from the coach on down. He may have had to settle on MJ in the beginning, but then again there may have been other, bigger issues at the beginning of JRs tenure that hamstrung the whole team, but he has one-by-one removed them to give Sullivan his chance to succeed.
And I have always thought the Kessel deal was a steal, even in the depths of his slow start last year.
Phil Kessel was indeed a steal.
26 years old at the time.
8 million dollar,7 year contract. Toronto pays
1.2 million of his salary, and more
importantly 1.2 million cap hit .
6.8 million net deal.
It was a brilliant move.
Toronto needed to make changes and JR
Took advantage of it.
Kessel has always been rated in the top 5
Right wingers in the league. ( look at his
standing right now.)
To me what has been most impressive is
PK play making skills and not his goal scoring
skills. Last year he made HBK a top threat line.
Good point guys.
Cheers
PS.
Tonight WJC … USA plays Canada.
USA best us 3 to 1 earlier in the
Tournament.
It will be a great game.
Excellent point Jim, PK’s play-making ability is incredible. Part of it comes from the threat that he is to score. That threat opens up a lot of ice not just for him but his line mates. However, he also has better vision than I realized, when he toiled for other teams.
My only complaint about him this season is stick malfunction problem he had a couple of weeks back.
Hey Guys
Another point about Phil is that he is an iron man. For interest I just checked an NHL site and it looks like Phil has not missed a regular season game in 7 years ! ( 82, 82, 48, 82, 82, 82, and then 38 this year.) So you really are getting your moneys worth .
Another point I noticed was James Neal. (They pay him 5 million a year.) In the last 4 years he had 176 points and Phil had 238 ! Almost 60 points per season for Phil.
The big difference is Kessel does not need a supporting cast to produce points where by James Neal does.
So a great signing all in all.
USA beats Canada…What a game!
5 to 4 in a shoot out.
Troy Terry scores in shoot out…. only player to do it.
Played 20 minutes overtime.
Tied at 4.
Canada up 4 to 2 at 15.50 in the third.
USA ties it 3 minutes later.
One for the ages!!!
Hey Jim,
I only saw the OT and the shootout, so I missed Team USA’s comeback. But it was, indeed, a huge victory.
With hockey being your national sport, I assume our neighbors to the north take losses like this very hard. Fortunately, you folks don’t seem to endure too many of them.
As I recall, Team Canada beat Team USA soundly in the World Cup last fall.
Rick