Chad
Ruhwedel
D · Defensive · Around average
- PAL
- 48
- WAR
- 0.3
- PTS
- 0
2023-24№ 108 / 316
Chad Ruhwedel stats, profile and latest news: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats and headlines.
Chad Ruhwedel
Retired 2025#5D
HEIGHT : 180 cm · WEIGHT : 86 kg · SHOOTS : R
Born : May 6, 1990 · San Diego, United States
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | New York Rangers | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | New York Rangers | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 47 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 47 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 18 |
| 2021-22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 14 |
| 2020-21 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| 2019-20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 41 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 12 |
| 2018-19 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 18 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 44 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 |
| 2016-17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 34 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 8 |
| 2015-16 | Buffalo Sabres | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2014-15 | Buffalo Sabres | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013-14 | Buffalo Sabres | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2012-13 | Buffalo Sabres | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 369 | 13 | 37 | 50 | 94 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Playoff totals | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Chad Ruhwedel: our analysis
2023-24 season: 5 GP, 0 G, 0 A, 0 PTS, -2 +/-, 14:08 TOI. WAR 0.3 (108th of 316) · PAL 48, around average.
In 2023-24, Chad Ruhwedel, 36, posts a PAL Rating of 48 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of 0.3 ranks 108th among 316 regulars, in the top half.
His strengths: defense (89, among the best in the league), discipline (81, well above average) and power play (67, above average). On the other hand, offense (6, among the weakest in the league) and creation (11, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: EV defense (+1.2); his biggest cost: EV offense (-1.0).
A season in line with 2022-23 (PAL of 46); his WAR went from 0.2 to 0.3.
Chad Ruhwedel's story
Raised in Scripps Ranch, San Diego, Ruhwedel learned hockey at the local ice arena and moved through the youth ranks with the San Diego Junior Gulls and La Jolla Jaguars before joining the Los Angeles Kings' U18 program. A stint with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL earned him a Division I scholarship and a spot with UMass Lowell, where he played from 2010 to 2013.
At UMass Lowell he combined on-ice production with academic recognition, appearing on Hockey East's All-Academic Team for three seasons. His final year brought bigger honours: Hockey East First-Team All-Star, an AHCA East First-Team All-American mention and the Bob Monahan Award as the top defenseman in New England.
Undrafted, Ruhwedel signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres on April 13, 2013, and debuted in the NHL that same night against Philadelphia. He spent most of his rookie season with Rochester in the AHL, including playing at the 2013 Spengler Cup, but was recalled several times to Buffalo. In April 2014 he recorded his first NHL assist and shortly after suffered a concussion from a hit in a game versus Philadelphia; while recovering he agreed to a two-year extension with the Sabres organization.
After his contract ended, Ruhwedel joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as a free agent on July 1, 2016. He scored his first NHL goal on December 23, 2016, against the New Jersey Devils and split time between Pittsburgh and their AHL affiliate in 2016–17. He appeared in six playoff games that spring but sustained a concussion in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final; Pittsburgh won the Stanley Cup that season, and while his name was not engraved on the trophy he was given a day with the Cup and a ring. On March 8, 2024, he was traded to the New York Rangers; after mainly playing with Hartford in 2024–25, he announced his retirement on August 12, 2025.
Ruhwedel's game is built on reliable, situational defensive play and the ability to be used in varied minutes, including special teams. His career path shows a player who earned NHL opportunities through steady AHL work and adaptability.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 14:06
- PP TOI/GP
- 0:00
- SH TOI/GP
- 2:19
- Pts/GP
- 0.20
- EV points
- 1
- Hits
- 8
- Blocks
- 5
- Takeaways
- 1
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 45.3 %
- Off. zone starts
- 27.7 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
Player ratings, 2023-24
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 57 %
69
Depth
- SK
- Skating
- 75
- Confidence 67 %
- ST
- Strength
- 62
- Confidence 62 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 47
- Confidence 67 %
- DU
- Durability
- 67
- Confidence 67 %
- CK
- Checking
- 86
- Confidence 62 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 72
- Confidence 38 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 80
- Confidence 62 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 58
- Confidence 57 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 63
- Confidence 57 %
- DF
- Defense
- 86
- Confidence 52 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 76
- Confidence 0 %
- EX
- Experience
- 78
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating75
- Top speed (35 %)35.4 · 76
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)1.735 · 75
- Distance /60 (20 %)13.9 · 76
- Speed consistency (15 %)34.1 · 68
ST — Strength62
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.639 · 73
- Body mass (50 %)-0.903 · 60
EN — Endurance47
- Ice time per game (45 %)15.1 · 47
- Total ice time (20 %)646 · 61
- Shift length (15 %)43.8 · 62
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)14.3 · 48
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.142 · 69
DU — Durability67
- Share of games played (100 %)0.745 · 67
CK — Checking86
- Hits /60 (70 %)6.751 · 86
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)6.717 · 88
- Season volume (10 %)4.511 · 78
FG — Fighting72
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.872 · 72
DI — Discipline80
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.029 · 80
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.499 · 83
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.329 · 68
PA — Passing58
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.214 · 52
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.313 · 62
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.037 · 72
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)4.411 · 82
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.167 · 58
SC — Scoring63
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.148 · 65
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.156 · 61
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.024 · 75
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.067 · 66
- xG per shot (10 %)0.034 · 61
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)9.441 · 74
DF — Defense86
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)0.08 · 82
- Relative xG against (20 %)-0.236 · 87
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.548 · 82
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.015 · 78
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)0.118 · 90
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)57.9 · 81
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)4.515 · 69
PS — Penalty shot76
- Shootouts (60 %)31.9 · 76
- Penalty shots (40 %)30.9 · 76
EX — Experience78
- Career regular-season games (65 %)83
- Career playoff games (25 %)61
- NHL seasons (10 %)87
OV — Overall69
- DF · Defense (30 %)86
- PA · Passing (22 %)58
- SK · Skating (12 %)75
- SC · Scoring (12 %)63
- EN · Endurance (9 %)47
- ST · Strength (6 %)62
- DI · Discipline (5 %)80
- CK · Checking (4 %)86
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 69 | 75 | 63 | 86 |
| 2022-23 | 71 | 75 | 68 | 83 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2023-24
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
PAL Rating
48/ 100
Performance · Around average
134 of 258 at the position
Value Rating
—/ 100
Season cap hit unknown
ProfileDefensiveValue comes mostly from defense
- Offense
- 5
- Defense
- 76
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 6
- Creation
- 11
- Shooting
- 16
- Possession
- 25
- Defense
- 89
- Discipline
- 81
- Power play
- 67
- Penalty kill
- 63
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | NYR | 0.3 | 48 | — | — |
| 2022-23 | PIT | 0.2 | 46 | — | — |
WAR, 2024-25
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
0.0
wins above replacement
0.0 to 0.0 — 90% interval
182 of 314 defensemen
+0.1 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.1
- EV defense
- +0.1
- Power play
- 0.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.0
- Shooting
- -0.0
- Penalties
- 0.0
- Average → replacement
- +0.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | NYR | 5 | 0.0 | 0.0 to 0.0 | 182/314 |
| 2023-24 | NYR | 52 | 0.3 | 0.0 to 0.9 | 108/316 |
| 2022-23 | PIT | 47 | 0.2 | -0.3 to 0.7 | 128/334 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 122.6 km/h6th percentileleague avg. 144.3 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.6 km/h43rd percentileleague avg. 34.7 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 419th percentileleague avg. 29
- Offensive zone time
- 38.0 %3rd percentileleague avg. 41.9 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 16.7 km11th percentileleague avg. 218.7 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 3.63 km6th percentileleague avg. 5.32 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 39.2 %3rd percentileleague avg. 42.2 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.1 %64th percentileleague avg. 17.9 %
- Defensive zone time
- 43.9 %6th percentileleague avg. 40.3 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 13rd percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| High danger | 00th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Mid range | 00th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
| Long range | 14th percentile | 00th percentile | 0.0 %0th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2024-2025 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Last 5 games
| Date | Opponent | G | A | PTS | +/- | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 22, 2024 | vs CAR | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13:15 |
| December 20, 2024 | @ DAL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15:07 |
| December 17, 2024 | @ NSH | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 14:25 |
| December 15, 2024 | @ STL | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13:40 |
| October 19, 2024 | @ TOR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14:04 |
Chad Ruhwedel: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Chad Ruhwedel have in 2024-25?
Chad Ruhwedel has 0 goals and 1 point (1 assist) in 5 games in 2024-25.
How old is Chad Ruhwedel?
Chad Ruhwedel is 36 years old: he was born on May 7, 1990.
How tall is Chad Ruhwedel, and how much does he weigh?
Chad Ruhwedel is 5'11" (180 cm) and weighs 190 lb (86 kg).
Where is Chad Ruhwedel from?
United States: Chad Ruhwedel was born in San Diego, California, United States.
How good is Chad Ruhwedel?
Chad Ruhwedel produced 0.0 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2024-25, 182nd of 314 players at his position in the NHL.
Is Chad Ruhwedel a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 182nd of 314 players at his position in the NHL in 2024-25. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Chad Ruhwedel getting better?
He is holding steady: his PAL rating went from 46 in 2022-23 to 48 in 2023-24 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
What are Chad Ruhwedel's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Chad Ruhwedel has 369 games, 13 goals, 37 assists and 50 points. His best season: 2021-22, with 13 points in 78 games.
How does Chad Ruhwedel perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Chad Ruhwedel has 25 games and 0 points in his career. His pace (0.00 points per game) is lower than his regular-season pace (0.14).
What is Chad Ruhwedel's nationality?
Chad Ruhwedel is American.
What awards has Chad Ruhwedel won?
Hockey East All-Academic Team (2010–11) ; Hockey East All-Academic Team (2011–12) ; Hockey East All-Academic Team (2012–13) ; Hockey East Honorable Mention All-Star (2011–12) ; Hockey East First-Team All-Star (2012–13) ; AHCA East First-Team All-American (2012–13) ; Bob Monahan Award — best defenseman in New England (2012–13).
How many championships has Chad Ruhwedel won?
1: Stanley Cup won by the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016–17 season) — Ruhwedel did not have his name engraved on the Cup, but was given a day with the Cup and received a Stanley Cup ring.
Where did Chad Ruhwedel play before turning pro?
Youth hockey at the San Diego Ice Arena (resident of Scripps Ranch); San Diego Junior Gulls; La Jolla Jaguars; Los Angeles Kings U18 AAA; Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL); UMass Lowell (2010–2013).
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)