Rutta underwent successful core muscle surgery this week, according to Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Rutta will need 8-10 weeks to recover and is expected to be at full strength in time for the start of training camp in September. Rutta missed 26 of the Penguins' last 40 games as he was battling the injury. He ended the season with three goals and nine points in 56 games.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: In Thursday's lineup
Rotowire
Rutta (lower body) will play Thursday versus the Wild.
Rutta will return from a 10-game absence. He's set to play alongside Mark Friedman on the Penguins' third pairing, with Chad Ruhwedel exiting the lineup to accommodate Rutta's return.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Game-time decision Thursday
Rotowire
Rutta (lower body) will be a game-time decision versus Minnesota on Thursday, Penguins radio play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Rutta has missed 10 straight games and the Penguins have suffered, going 4-6-0. He has three goals and nine points in 53 games with 68 hits and blocked shots this season.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Continues skating with team
Rotowire
Rutta (lower body) was on the ice with the Penguins on Tuesday but is not expected to play versus the Devils, Penguins radio play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Rutta has been skating with the team for a few days now but has yet to be cleared to get back into the lineup. Tuesday will mark the 32-year-old defenseman's 10th consecutive absence due to his lower-body problem. Once cleared to play, Rutta figures to knock either Mark Friedman or Chad Ruhwedel from the lineup.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Unavailable Sunday
Rotowire
Rutta (lower body) won't play Sunday versus the Flyers.
Rutta will miss his ninth consecutive contest. He has picked up three goals, nine points, 62 shots on goal, 68 blocked shots and 68 hits in 53 games this season. Mark Friedman is expected to play again Sunday.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Won't play Saturday
Rotowire
Rutta (lower body) won't play Saturday against Boston.
Rutta, who will miss his eighth straight game, has supplied nine points, 62 shots on goal, 68 blocked shots and 68 hits in 53 contests this campaign. Mark Friedman has been playing during Rutta's absence.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Skating but won't play Thursday
Rotowire
Rutta (lower body) skated prior to Thursday's matchup with Nashville but didn't participate in line rushes and won't be in the lineup, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Rutta will be out of action for his seventh consecutive contest due to his lingering lower-body issue. While the fact that he has begun skating is a step in the right direction, the Czech native should probably be considered questionable, at best, heading into a back-to-back versus the Bruins and Flyers on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Not with team in Detroit
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Rutta (lower body) did not travel for Tuesday's clash with the Red Wings.
Rutta will be out of action for his sixth straight contest due to his lingering lower-body problem. Prior to getting hurt, the veteran blueliner was stuck in a 33-game goal drought dating back to Nov. 23 versus Calgary. During that stretch, the Czech native notched just four assists and shouldn't be expected to offer much in the way of offensive upside even once cleared to play.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Dealing with lower-body issue
Rotowire
Rutta was labeled week-to-week Monday due to his lower-body problem.
Rutta's absence, combined with that of Marcus Pettersson (lower body) and Jeff Petry (upper body) will stretch the Penguins' blue-line depth. Even when healthy, Rutta isn't exactly an offensive force considering he has just one point in his previous 11 outings. For now, Mark Friedman and Taylor Fedun will make up the bottom pairing.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Not playing Saturday
Rotowire
Rutta (undisclosed) is not on the ice for pregame warmups and isn't expected to play Saturday against the Rangers, Penguins radio play-by-play announcer Josh Getzoff reports.
Rutta has contributed nine points, 62 shots on goal, 68 blocks and 68 hits in 53 contests this campaign. He will be replaced in the lineup by Mark Friedman, who is up with the big club on an emergency basis.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Good to go
Rotowire
Rutta (undisclosed) will be available for Thursday night's game versus the Rangers, Rob Rossi of The Athletic reports.
Look for Rutta to slot into his usual bottom-pairing role versus New York. The 32-year-old defender has collected just one helper through his last 10 contests.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Exits after blocked shot
Rotowire
Rutta left Tuesday's game versus the Canadiens after blocking a shot in the third period, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Rutta needed some help off the ice after blocking the shot. The 32-year-old's status wasn't updated after the game, but more information should be made available before Thursday's game versus the Rangers.
Penguins' Jan Rutta: Off long-term injured reserve
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) was taken off the long-term injured reserve list Saturday.
That sets the stage for Rutta to return Saturday versus St. Louis. He last played Jan. 14. Rutta has three goals and eight points in 42 contests with the Penguins in 2022-23. With Rutta set to return, Chad Ruhwedel might be a healthy scratch.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Hopes to play Saturday
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) is hoping to return to action Saturday in St. Louis, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Rutta partook in a full practice Friday for the first time since he was hurt Jan. 14, a span of 15 games. The defenseman said that while he wants to return, the final decision will be made by the coaching staff. Rutta has three goals and five assists in 42 games this season.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Skating individually
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) was working out on the ice before Sunday's practice.
Rutta has missed the last seven games and will miss at least the next three due to his placement on long-term injured reserve. He won't be eligible to return until Feb. 14 in San Jose, but it appears that his rehab is moving in the right direction.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Moves to LTIR
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) was placed on long-term injured reserve Tuesday.
Rutta, who hasn't played since Jan. 14, has generated eight points, 53 shots on goal, 52 blocks and 58 hits in 42 games this season. He will be unavailable until at least Feb. 14 against San Jose.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Yet to return to practice
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) is skating but hasn't been cleared to practice with the team, Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports Tuesday.
Rutta's lack of practice time probably will see him sidelined through the All-Star break, though he hasn't been officially ruled out by the team. Even once cleared to play, the 32-year-old defenseman probably shouldn't be expected to offer more than mid-range fantasy value, at best, given his limited offensive upside.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: On injured reserve list
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) was put on the injured reserve list Friday, Seth Rorabaugh of TribLive.com reports.
Rutta hasn't been in the lineup since Saturday because of the injury. He has three goals and eight points in 42 contests in 2022-23. Rutta's injury had previously been regarded as day-to-day, so while him being moved to the injured reserve is discouraging, he might not be unavailable for too long.
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Penguins' Jan Rutta: Won't make trip to Ottawa
Rotowire
Rutta (upper body) won't travel with the Penguins to Ottawa for Wednesday's game, Wes Crosby of NHL.com reports.
It appears as though Rutta will miss at least one more contest after being a late scratch for Monday's contest against Anaheim. He is listed as day-to-day. Rutta has supplied eight points, 53 shots on goal, 52 blocks and 58 hits in 42 games this season.
