Czech defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette of Switzerland’s National League, according to a Swiss media report. Gregory Beaud reports that his media outlet Blick has information that indicates the deal is imminent. No details about the length of the contract are mentioned, other than “for the upcoming season.” If correct, it would mean a return to Europe after eight years in the NHL for the 35-year-old. Rutta has 98 points and 219 penalty minutes in 417 NHL regular-season games with the Chicago Blackhawks [http://thn.com/chicago], Tampa Bay Lightning [http://thn.com/tampabay], Pittsburgh Penguins [http://thn.com/pittsburgh] and San Jose Sharks [http://thn.com/sanjose]. He also has 11 points in 49 playoff games and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Tampa Bay. Earlier this off-season, Blick reported that Jesse Puljujärvi was on his way to Switzerland [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/rumor-jesse-puljujarvi-headed-to-switzerland-after-ahl-finals].Two weeks later, the Finnish winger indeed signed with the same Genève-Servette team [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/confirmed-jesse-puljujarvi-signs-multi-year-contract-in-switzerland]. CONFIRMED: Jesse Puljujärvi Signs Multi-Year Contract in Switzerland [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/fc4cbae2-6295-4fc6-979e-896c7d3c3fb7.webp] 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. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/confirmed-jesse-puljujarvi-signs-multi-year-contract-in-switzerland] According to the report [https://www.blick.ch/fr/sport/hockey/national-league/un-double-champion-nhl-arrive-geneve-servette-tient-son-septieme-joueur-etranger-id21152656.html], Genève-Servette sports director Marc Gautschi has said that he wants to start the upcoming season with seven import players. The club already has under contract for the 2025-26 season Finns Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/markus-granlund-signs-with-swiss-club-geneve-servette], Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/nine-year-nhl-veteran-signs-two-year-deal-in-switzerland]. Genève-Servette team won its first-ever national championship in Switzerland in 2023-24 after a century of existance and then won the Champions Hockey League in 2024-25, but has missed the playoffs the last two National League seasons. Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for final [https://images.saymedia-content.com/.image/MjA2NzA4MDY3OTEwMjk3MDIy/usatsi_22909403.jpg] Jan Rutta grilled by Swedish media after semifinal; suspended for final The Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström. [https://thehockeynews.com/international/latest-news/jan-rutta-grilled-by-swedish-media-after-semifinal-suspended-for-final]
