Former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jan Rutta will sign with Swiss club Genève-Servette of the 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.”
The Czech defenseman has been playing in North America since 2017, when he made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks. Rutta joined the Lightning the following season and went on to spend the next three seasons with the Lightning, securing two Stanley Cups.
The 35-year-old scored four goals and 35 points in 158 games with the Lightning. Following his tenure with the Lightning, Rutta signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins and was then dealt to the San Jose Sharks.
Without a contract this off-season, Rutta decided to head back to Europe. He has never played in Switzerland, spending his junior career and his early professional career playing in Czechia.
According to the report, 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 Jesse Puljujärvi, Markus Granlund, Sakari Manninen and Vili Saarijärvi, as well as Canadian Taylor Beck and American Jimmy Vesey.
REPORT: Jan Rutta Will Sign In Switzerland
Czech
defenseman Jan Rutta is about to sign with Genève-Servette
of Switzerland’s National League, according to a
Swiss media report.