The Chad Ruhwedel contract, signed yesterday, was a pretty smooth piece of business for Chris Drury. The Rangers needed a competent 7D that can potentially be a bargain as a 6D in a pinch, and Ruhwedel is certainly that. The one year, $775 million cap hit is also very manageable and doesn’t hurt the Rangers at all, potentially giving the Blueshirts another Erik Gustafsson-esque bargain on the blue line.
1. If anything, the Chad Ruhwedel contract, along with the other depth signings this year and last, show Drury has learned his lesson about paying for depth players and leadership. In his first offseason, Drury spent major assets and cap space to acquire the likes of Ryan Reaves, Barclay Goodrow, and Sammy Blais, and none of them were worth their cap hit and/or the assets required to attain them.
Now with signings like Ruhwedel, Gustafsson, Blake Wheeler, Sam Carrick, and others, Drury has changed course, trying to find bargains at close to league minimum. That’s how depth should be built. Don’t stick with Gustafsson, find the next Gustafsson.
2. But if you’re expecting Ruhwedel to be Gustafsson, then you’re going to be disappointed. They play different games. Gustafsson was more of a puck mover, whereas Ruhwedel is a stay at home defenseman and is relatively one-dimensional.
Over the last three seasons, Ruhwedel has been very good defensively, limiting both quality and quantity of chances against, something that would go well with, say, Jacob Trouba’s current skill set. He’s not much of a puck mover, but the puck doesn’t really die on his stick either.
3. At worst Ruhwedel is an easily waived, cheap defenseman. At best, he’s a steadying presence on a blue line that desperately needs solid defensive zone play. Detractors may say Ruhwedel doesn’t address the true need, a puck mover, and that’s true. But teams need steady depth defenseman in case of injury.
Imagine if the Rangers had Ruhwedel to help manage Trouba’s ice time when he had a broken ankle?
Oh? They did? Fancy that.
4. While the Chad Ruhwedel contract/signing isn’t exactly the news many had hoped for, it still addressed a need for the offseason. Not every move is going to make headlines, and Ruhwedel certainly doesn’t make headlines. But you can’t argue the value and depth he brings to the lineup. He’s also a Stanley Cup winner, for those keeping track.
It’s funny how an offseason goes, isn’t it?
Many make fun of signings like this, and then 6 months later celebrate the amazing bargain found in free agency. Ruhwedel may not be as effective anymore, but it’s low risk and medium reward for Drury and the Blueshirts.
