Czech defenseman Jan Rutta, 35, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette, the National League club announced on Monday.

This ends Rutta’s eight-year career in North America and confirms a rumor that appeared in Swiss media last week.

“We are pleased to be able to optimally fill, with Jan, the desired profile of a physically strong and experienced two-way defenseman,” said club sports manager Marc Gautschi. “He has very good skating and mobility abilities for his size, which allow him to be used in all situations and to withstand significant ice time.”

Orinally from Pisek, Czechia, Rutta advanced through the ranks of the Plzeň and Piráti Chomutov clubs, playing over 300 professional games with Chomutov between the top two Czech leagues. In his last Extraliga season in 2016-17 at age 26, Rutta had 45 points in 63 regular-season and playoff games combined, and was chosen to play in his first of three IIHF World Championships for Czechia. That was his last season in Europe to date.

Never drafted, Rutta had 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks. He also had 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay. Last season, he had nine points in 54 games for last-place San Jose.

CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland Finnish winger Jesse Puljujärvi, 27, has signed a two-year contract with Genève-Servette,<a href="https://www.gshc.ch/actualites/detail/article/jesse-puljujaervi-au-gshc-pour-deux-ans"> the National League club announced</a> on Tuesday.

Internationally, he was a member of the Czech team that won gold on home ice at the 2024 Worlds.

“Jan has already won a lot and will be an essential element for our team culture,” Gautschi continued. “In addition, with his work ethic, he will be a role model for our young international defensemen in their daily progression.”

Rutta becomes the seventh import under contract with Genève-Servette for the coming season – the others include Finns Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.

The team also has 25-year-old Swiss defenseman Tim Berni, a Columbus Blue Jackets prospect, French forward Tim Bozon, who plays with a Swiss license, and goalie Stéphane Charlin, who won the National League top goaltender award last season as a member of the SCL Tigers. 

Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existence and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. 

American Ex-NHLer Wins Swiss National League MVP The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation held its annual awards ceremony for the 2024-25 hockey season on Thursday night in Solothurn.