Rutta, a back-to-back Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay in 2020 and '21, has spent the last four seasons with the Lightning organization. During the 2021-22 campaign, Rutta recorded three goals, 15 assists, 18 points and a plus-25, which ranked second on the team, in 76 games played. The defenseman established career highs in games played (76), assists (15), plus/minus (+25), hits (93), and blocked shots (71).
The 6-foot-3, 204-pound defenseman tallied five points (1G-4A) in 17 playoff games during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the opening goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. In 49 career playoff games, Rutta has three goals, eight assists and 11 points.
A native of Pisek, Czech Republic, the undrafted blueliner has played in 238 career NHL games, tallying 12 goals, 49 assists and 61 points split between Tampa and the Chicago Blackhawks.
Additionally, he has appeared in 26 career AHL games between Rockford and Syracuse, scoring four goals, eight assists and 12 points.
Prior to his North American debut, Rutta played for Chomutov Pirati of the Czech Extraliga, the highest-level of hockey in Czechia, from 2012 to 2017.
