The Rangers announced Tuesday that they’ve sent defenseman Chad Ruhwedel down to AHL Hartford. Since he’s been rostered for fewer than 30 days and played less than 10 games since last clearing waivers in October, he doesn’t need them today to return to the minors.
Ruhwedel, 34, hasn’t played for the Blueshirts since his season debut against the Maple Leafs on Oct. 19. He’s either been in the press box or in the minors since then and has served as a healthy scratch on 15 occasions this season.
The San Diego native has two assists in seven games for Hartford in 2024-25, his first AHL action since a conditioning stint with the Penguins back in the 2018-19 campaign. The veteran of 365 NHL games across 13 seasons has only made six NHL appearances for the Rangers since they acquired him from Pittsburgh at last year’s trade deadline and subsequently signed him to a one-way, two-year extension.
Today’s reassignment marks the end of his second recall since clearing waivers nearly six weeks ago. He’s been recalled for two stretches of at least a week recently, serving as a healthy extra with the Rangers shuffling their roster to get out of their 1-6-0 run in their last seven.
Ruhwedel has now been rostered for 18 days since last clearing waivers. If his next recall lasts more than 12 days, he’ll need waivers to return to Hartford at the end of it.