The New York Rangers signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000, with a total guarantee of $450,000. This was a strange signing as Ruhwedel only played in a total of five games after he was traded to New York at the trade deadline while he did not make one appearance in the playoffs. Going into the offseason, it didn’t look like the Rangers would keep Ruhwedel, but a lot has changed. First off, the future of Jacob Trouba is still up in the air. At the start of the Free Agent Frenzy, Trouba’s name was being thrown around in trade rumors. Trouba at practice. While those rumors have since died down a little bit, Chris Drury was reportedly trying to clear cap space and Trouba’s $8 million cap hit is still a major financial liability, so it’s possible we see the Rangers captain get moved before opening night. Ryan Lindgren is another defenseman who’s in an interesting situation. After it was reported that the Rangers were ‘grinding’ on getting an extension done with Lindgren, the two parties still couldn’t agree on a new deal as the 26-year-old filed for arbitration. When it’s all set and done, Lindgren will most likely remain with the Rangers, but his contract status is something to keep an eye out for. It’s safe to assume the uncertainties for New York’s blueline played a factor in why Drury ultimately re-signed Ruhwedel. The Rangers’ defensive core was also their weakest spot of the roster last season and having depth at that position is important for them. Ruhwedel will likely not play a big role for the Rangers this upcoming season. This was simply a move that provides backup to a defensive unit with so many question marks.
