Sabres sign Ruhwedel to 2-year $1.3 Mill deal

[BuffaloBorn]

"The Buffalo Sabres today announced the team has signed defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to a two-year contract.

Ruhwedel (5/7/90, 5'11", 181 lbs) has played in 28 games for the Sabres since signing an entry-level contract with the club in April 2013. While playing for the Rochester Americans in 2013-14, Ruhwedel notched 28 points (4+24) in 47 regular-season games, which ranked him second among the team’s defensemen. He also appeared in five playoff games and recorded five points (2+3), which was second-most on the team.

Prior to joining the Sabres organization, he finished three seasons at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he received First-team All-America honors and was named the 2013 Bob Monahan Defenseman of the Year by the New England Hockey Writers Association. Through three seasons with the River Hawks, he appeared in 110 games and amassed 63 points (15+48).

The San Diego, Calif. native also played for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL) for two seasons, tallying 33 points (5+28) through 113 games."

 

per sabres.com

[Eleven]

How close is the team to 50 contracts?

[LastPommerFan]

How close is the team to 50 contracts?

 

Capgeek counts 45 before Ennis and Ruhwedel. So 47 now?

[inkman]

I really don't like this player

[nfreeman]

I really don't like this player

 

Ouch.

 

He's small and he's not physical, but he's a decent skater and has pretty good hockey IQ. If nothing else he could develop into a Chris-Butler-type trade asset.

[Iron Crotch]

I really don't like this player

 

I'm not a big fan of 5'10 180 lb. defensemen unless they have some serious skill (which Rudy doesn't).

[dudacek]

 

 

I'm not a big fan of 5'10 180 lb. defensemen unless they have some serious skill (which Rudy doesn't).

 

Yep, I like the guy, but his ceiling is top AHLer, NHL roster filler.

[inkman]

Yep, I like the guy, but his ceiling is top AHLer, NHL roster filler.

He and Brian Flynn represent everything wrong with the Sabres the last 2 years. No talent, no size, no potential.

[tom webster]

 

He and Brian Flynn represent everything wrong with the Sabres the last 2 years. No talent, no size, no potential.

 

I respectfully disagree. In the new NHL, guys like Flynn are just what you need in your 11th through 13th forward and Rudy is the perfect 6th or 7th defenseman. The fact that they were asked to be more last year was what was indicative of a lack of 1 through 9 and 1 through 4 talent.

[Eleven]

I don't understand why they burned one of NEXT year's contracts on him.

 

Rudy's a fine young man, I'll bet. But certainly not an NHL player.

[inkman]

I don't understand why they burned one of NEXT year's contracts on him.

 

Rudy's a fine young man, I'll bet. But certainly not an NHL player.

Exactly. Roster filler this year. Fine but what the heck is he doing on next seasons roster?

[LastPommerFan]

I don't understand why they burned one of NEXT year's contracts on him.

 

Rudy's a fine young man, I'll bet. But certainly not an NHL player.

 

I think it indicates an intention to pacakage players for additional picks, or, pacakaging multiple prospects for individual nhl level talent.

[JJFIVEOH]

I remember hearing he was in pretty high demand throughout the league when he came out of college as a free agent. Did the rest of the league think he had a higher ceiling?

[That Aud Smell]

I have an irrational dislike of this player. It's not his fault. It all stems from JoBa's tweet in praise of him last year - as being part of the team's future blue liners - that put me over the edge.

[inkman]

I have an irrational dislike of this player. It's not his fault. It all stems from JoBa's tweet in praise of him last year - as being part of the team's future blue liners - that put me over the edge.

I couldn't agree more. He's not a NHL player and for Battista to mention him in the same breath as the other is beyond ignorant.

[Iron Crotch]

I don't mind Rudy as a depth guy for a couple of years. I think Pysyk and Risto make the Sabres this year as rookies, with Rudy and McCabe back in Rochester. We're still pretty thin on defense until McCabe and Zadorov are ready for the NHL. And, Rudy has a fair amount of NHL experience which is good in the short-term.

 

I think we'll probably still sign a veteran seventh defenseman... 1 year cheap contract sort of thing. Hank, maybe?

[nfreeman]

What's the problem with the 2nd year? Can't they send him down to Rochester if he's not good enough to be #6 or #7 in Buffalo?

[inkman]

What's the problem with the 2nd year? Can't they send him down to Rochester if he's not good enough to be #6 or #7 in Buffalo?

...but will the Sabres need that contract slot to sign one of their slew of prospects. Only get 50....

[Huckleberry]

No worries, we are tanking, we need someone alongside weber to let some goals in.

 

Edited July 17, 2014 by Heimdall

[That Aud Smell]

No worries, we are tanking, we need someone alongside weber to let some goals in.

 

 

This made me laugh.

[Stoner]

I have an irrational dislike of this player. It's not his fault. It all stems from JoBa's tweet in praise of him last year - as being part of the team's future blue liners - that put me over the edge.

 

And Weber, that kid's from right down the street in Pittsburgh. Didya see the way he roughed up Crosby? That took guts, boy.

[shrader]

...but will the Sabres need that contract slot to sign one of their slew of prospects. Only get 50....

 

The following are all off the books after this season:

-Stewart

-Stafford

-Mitchell

-Kaleta

-Flynn

-Meszaros

-Neuvirth

-Enroth

-Grigorenko

-Schaller

-Pysyk

-Larsson

-Hackett

-Dalpe

-Strachan

-Samuels-Thomas

-Gauthier-Leduc

-Sundher

-Lieuwen

-Varone

-Ellis

-Bagnall

 

Some will stay, many will go either through free agency or trade. There's no need to worry about the number of contracts. If by some chance he's in the way and we can't find a home for him, he could always be bought out if absolutely necessary. That would cost the team about 50 cents. At the end of the day, he's either a 7th defenseman in the NHL or an older guy who can provided a bit of guidance to some of the AHL rookies fresh out of college or juniors.

[Eleven]

The following are all off the books after this season:

-Stewart

-Stafford

-Mitchell

-Kaleta

-Flynn

-Meszaros

-Neuvirth

-Enroth

-Grigorenko

-Schaller

-Pysyk

-Larsson

-Hackett

-Dalpe

-Strachan

-Samuels-Thomas

-Gauthier-Leduc

-Sundher

-Lieuwen

-Varone

-Ellis

-Bagnall

 

Some will stay, many will go either through free agency or trade. There's no need to worry about the number of contracts. If by some chance he's in the way and we can't find a home for him, he could always be bought out if absolutely necessary. That would cost the team about 50 cents. At the end of the day, he's either a 7th defenseman in the NHL or an older guy who can provided a bit of guidance to some of the AHL rookies fresh out of college or juniors.

 

Now I feel much more comfortable. Thank you.

[dudacek]

 

 

The following are all off the books after this season:

-Stewart

-Stafford

-Mitchell

-Kaleta

-Flynn

-Meszaros

-Neuvirth

-Enroth

-Grigorenko

-Schaller

-Pysyk

-Larsson

-Hackett

-Dalpe

-Strachan

-Samuels-Thomas

-Gauthier-Leduc

-Sundher

-Lieuwen

-Varone

-Ellis

-Bagnall

 

Some will stay, many will go either through free agency or trade. There's no need to worry about the number of contracts. If by some chance he's in the way and we can't find a home for him, he could always be bought out if absolutely necessary. That would cost the team about 50 cents. At the end of the day, he's either a 7th defenseman in the NHL or an older guy who can provided a bit of guidance to some of the AHL rookies fresh out of college or juniors.

 

You know the second guy on that list ain't going nowhere.

 

 

 

Now I feel much more comfortable. Thank you.

 

How about now?

[Eleven]

You know the second guy on that list ain't going nowhere.

 

 

 

How about now?

 

Jerk.