Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jan Rutta has joined HC Sparta Praha of the Extraliga ledního hokeje (ELH) in his native Czechia.
That team announced the transaction Monday.
Rutta, 36, opened this season skating for Geneve-Servette HC in Switzerland’s National League. In 16 games for that club, he had four points (two goals, two assists).
A right-handed shot, Rutta spent one season with the Penguins after joining the team as a free agent in 2022. During the 2022-23 campaign, he appeared in 56 contests and posted nine points (three goals, six assists) while averaging 17:07 of ice time per contest.
During the 2023 offseason, the Penguins sent Rutta to the San Jose Sharks in a blockbuster trade that brought defenseman Erik Karlsson to the Penguins.
In addition to the Penguins and Sharks, Rutta skated for the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, winning Stanley Cup titles with the Lightning in 2020 and 2021.