Rangers place Chad Ruhwedel on waivers

On Thursday, the New York Rangers placed Chad Ruhwedel on the waiver wire, making him available to the other 31 NHL teams.

If he clears, Ruhwedel can be optioned to the Rangers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack. It would be the first time he’s been in the minors since the 2018-19 season.

Ruhwedel has so far appeared in just one game with the Rangers so far in 2024-25. He was in the lineup on Oct. 19 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The veteran blueliner was on the ice for 14:04 across 17 shifts and posted a plus/minus of +2 in the Blueshirts’ 4-1 win. It was his first NHL game since March 28 of last season.

The San Diego, California native came to the Rangers last season when he was dealt by the Pittsburgh Penguins right before the trade deadline for a 2027 fourth-round pick. After the trade, Ruhwedel played in five games for New York. In 52 total games over the 2023-24 campaign, he scored a goal and four points, with his last mark on the scorecard coming as an assist on Feb. 20 against the New York Islanders.

In July, Ruhwedel signed a one-year contract extension to stay with the Rangers. The deal carries an NHL cap hit of $775,000.

The Rangers are the third organization that Ruhwedel has been with in his professional career. Going undrafted out of Massachusetts-Lowell, Ruhwedel signed with the Buffalo Sabres in April 2013. After three-plus seasons in western New York, he signed with the Penguins in July 2016, where he spent over seven seasons.

Across 13 seasons, Ruhwedel has appeared in 365 NHL games, scoring 13 goals and 36 assists for 49 points with a -7 rating. He has yet to play in a Stanley Cup Playoff game. In 211 AHL games, he has notched 29 goals and 82 assists for 111 points.