San Jose Sharks
What Makes Jan Rutta So Valuable? (+)
Everybody knows that Jan Rutta is a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
But why was he so integral to the success of the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Granted, Rutta was a bottom-pairing defenseman for those teams. But there is a distinction between a playoff-caliber bottom-pairing defenseman as opposed to one less reliable. Rutta averaged about 16 minutes a night and also killed penalties in the 2021 and 2022 playoffs, suiting up for 40 playoff games over back-to-back deep Lightning runs.
Those minutes matter a lot.
There’s a reason why the Pittsburgh Penguins signed the Czech rearguard to an arguably above-market three-year, $8.25 million contract last off-season. And why he should fit in just right with the San Jose Sharks, who acquired him in the Erik Karlsson trade earlier this month.
SPORTLOGiQ’s micro-stats give us some insight into what makes Rutta so valuable.
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