Jan Rutta | Photo: nhl.cz
Every hockey player would like to experience participating in the home world championship. Czech defender Jan Rutta has stepped up to her, who after an unsuccessful season with San Jose returned to his native country to take part in the last tournament in Brno before the start of the championship. How does he rate the past year in the NHL? What role does he play in the Sharks team? And what are the prospects of the club from California for next year?
After the premature end at the club level, the question arises as to whether Rutta will strengthen the national team at the upcoming world championships in Prague and Ostrava. “First there will be a tournament in Brno, where I am of course looking forward to. I’m happy to play for the national team again,” declared the participant of two World Cups. In Brno, the Czechs will test their strength against the Finns, Swedes and Swiss. On Friday, May 10, they will play against Finland at the start of the World Cup in the O2 arena.
The 33-year-old sand hockey graduate has completed his seventh season in the overseas NHL. In the summer, he moved to the San Jose Sharks team, with which he did not experience any success. The Sharks did not make it to the playoffs, they also had the label of the worst team in the entire competition with only 47 points, and head coach Dave Quinn took over from their bench.
“It was already clear before the season that we probably won’t fight for the top ranks. The beginning was not easy, even though in previous years I was lucky to play in organizations with the highest goals. From this point of view, it was a new experience for me,” mentioned the experienced quarterback.
“It was good that we didn’t break up as a team and finished the season with honor.”
The team from California improved a bit in the next phase, but not significantly. “It was good that we didn’t break up as a team and ended the season with honor,” he was pleased. But in November, San Jose had a real coat of shame when they conceded ten goals twice in a row. First with Vancouver, then it caught the same charge from Pittsburgh.
Just before the transfer deadline, the Czech striker and leader Tomáš Hertl, whose steps led to Las Vegas, also left the cabin after ten years. “I was with him every day and I had no idea that something like this was going to happen. On the day the transfers ended, Hertlík told me over coffee that he was going to Vegas,” he described the moment he learned of his colleague’s departure.
“I used to be in a position to pick up pucks, now I’m in a position to give advice to the younger guys. I like this.”
Despite his years gone by, Rutta has been a mentor to younger players, giving them valuable advice. “I used to be in a position to pick up pucks, now I’m in a position to give advice to the younger guys. I like it,” said the two-time Stanley Cup winner with Tampa Bay.
The stable back of the overseas NHL has already suffered a few injuries during his time in the most famous league in the world. This unfortunate fact did not escape him this year either. “I feel good now. Although I didn’t play all the matches, I still managed quite a few,” he said with a smile.
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