Chad Ruhwedel

Chad James Ruhwedel (born May 7, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenseman for 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Rangers.

Playing career

Amateur Ruhwedel started playing youth ice hockey at the San Diego Ice Arena while a resident of Scripps Ranch. He later played for the San Diego Junior Gulls and La Jolla Jaguars as a youth, before playing for the Los Angeles Kings U18 AAA team. After juniors, he played for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, earning a Division I college hockey scholarship to UMass Lowell. Ruhwedel played at UMass Lowell from 2010 to 2013. He was named to the Hockey East All-Academic Team in 2010–11, 2011–12, and 2012–13. In 2011–12 he was a Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star, and in 2012–13 he was a Hockey East First-Team All-Star, and an AHCA East First-Team All-American. He also won the Bob Monahan Award as the best defenseman in New England.

Buffalo Sabres On April 13, 2013, Ruhwedel signed a two-year entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Sabres. He made his NHL debut that night against the Philadelphia Flyers as a replacement for an injured Tyler Myers. Over his seven games with the Sabres, he record no points, no penalties, and finished with an even plus-minus rating.

Ruhwedel returned to Buffalo in July to participate in the Sabres’ development camp but was not expected to make their opening night roster. Through his first month in the AHL, Ruhwedel was often paired with Brayden McNabb and played in all situations including the power play and penalty kill. Ruhwedel accumulated two goals and two assists for four points through October and early November. In December, Ruhwedel competed with Rochester at the 2013 Spengler Cup. While Ruhwedel was finding success in the AHL, the Sabres maintained a losing 7–23–3 record and had fired coach Ron Rolston and general manager Darcy Regier. On December 17, Ruhwedel was recalled to the NHL level as part of an ongoing player evaluation being conducted by interim coach Ted Nolan. At the time of the recall, Ruhwedel had recorded four goals and 10 assists for 14 points through 26 games. He earned another recall to the NHL level in January but recorded no points over seven games.

Ruhwedel was recalled to the NHL level on March 8, 2014, after Alexander Sulzer suffered a lower-body injury. The following game Ruhwedel suffered a concussion after Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo delivered a hit to the head during a game. As a result of the hit, Rinaldo received a four-game suspension and Ruhwedel was sidelined for the remainder of the season. While recovering from the concussion, Ruhwedel signed a two-year contract extension to remain with the Sabres organization. As a restricted free agent, he had previously received a qualifying offer from the Sabres the month before to retain his playing rights. Ruhwedel finished the 2013–14 season with one assist at the NHL level and 28 points with the Rochester Americans.

Pittsburgh Penguins At the conclusion of his contract with the Sabres, on July 1, 2016, Ruhwedel signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. He scored his first National Hockey League goal on December 23, 2016, in a 4–1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. He split his time during 2016–17 season playing 28 games in minors for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and 34 games Pittsburgh in the NHL. He would play six playoff games. Ruhwedel suffered a concussion in game four of the Eastern Conference Final against the Ottawa Senators, and missed the rest of the season. The Penguins would go on to win the Stanley Cup for the second straight season; since Ruhwedel spent 1/3 of the season in the American Hockey League (AHL), he did not get his name on the cup. Pittsburgh did give him a day with the Stanley Cup, and a Stanley Cup ring.

On June 22, 2017, the Penguins re-signed Ruhwedel to a two-year, $1.3 million extension with an annual average value of $650,000.

On February 19, 2022, the Penguins re-signed Ruhwedel to a two-year, $1.6 million extension with an annual average value of $800,000.

New York Rangers On March 8, 2024, Ruhwedel was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Following a 2024–25 season spent primarily with the Rangers' AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, Ruhwedel announced his retirement on August 12, 2025.

Personal life Ruhwedel was raised in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego and attended Scripps Ranch High School, where he starred on the roller hockey team.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2007–08 Los Angeles Jr. Kings 18U AAA 2008–09 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 55 0 11 11 30 4 0 1 1 4 2009–10 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 58 5 17 22 55 3 0 1 1 2 2010–11 UMass Lowell River Hawks HE 32 2 13 15 10 — — — — — 2011–12 UMass Lowell River Hawks HE 37 6 19 25 26 — — — — — 2012–13 UMass Lowell River Hawks HE 41 7 16 23 20 — — — — — 2012–13 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2013–14 Rochester Americans AHL 47 4 24 28 22 5 2 3 5 4 2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 21 0 1 1 2 — — — — — 2014–15 Rochester Americans AHL 72 10 26 36 22 — — — — — 2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2015–16 Rochester Americans AHL 59 10 16 26 26 — — — — — 2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2016–17 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 28 4 12 16 12 — — — — — 2016–17 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 34 2 8 10 8 6 0 0 0 4 2017–18 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 44 2 3 5 16 12 0 0 0 2 2018–19 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 18 1 1 2 4 — — — — — 2018–19 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins AHL 5 1 4 5 2 — — — — — 2019–20 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 41 2 4 6 12 — — — — — 2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 17 0 2 2 14 — — — — — 2021–22 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 78 4 9 13 14 7 0 0 0 0 2022–23 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 1 4 5 18 — — — — — 2023–24 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 47 1 3 4 4 — — — — — 2023–24 New York Rangers NHL 5 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2024–25 New York Rangers NHL 5 0 1 1 0 — — — — — 2024–25 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 50 3 15 18 42 — — — — — NHL totals 369 13 37 50 94 25 0 0 0 6

Awards and honors Award Year RefUSHL All-Star Game 2010 College Hockey East First Team 2013 AHCA East First-Team All-American 2013 Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2013