Observations:

June 2016 – Pittsburgh did not tender a qualifying offer to Ruopp. Mark Allan

June 2016 – Ruopp could have put up better numbers in the final season of his entry-level deal, but gaudy offensive stats are not really his thing. He becomes an RFA after posting five points in 31 ECHL games and one assist in five AHL games. If he makes it to the NHL (or even to regular employment in the AHL), it will be as a rugged defenseman who discourages opponents from lingering around the net. To that end, he racked up 79 PIMs with the Wheeling Nailers and another 11 with the AHL Penguins. Mark Allan

January 2016 – For second time this season, the hardrock D-man has been promoted to the AHL, although he has yet to suit up for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The third-year pro has two goals, two assists and 61 PIMs in 27 games with the ECHL's Wheeling Nailers. He's still only 22, but increasingly it's looking like any future NHL fantasy value will be restricted to penalty minutes and hits. Mark Allan

November 2016 – Ruopp is toiling for the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, where he has one assist in seven games to go with minus-3 and 10 PIMs. It's increasingly unlikely that he will make it to the NHL, certainly as nothing more than a grinding blueliner. Mark Allan  

September 2015 – The physical defenseman has been unsurprisingly sent to the minors. The third-round pick got into just seven AHL games last season and, entering the last season of a three-year entry deal, needs to stick in the AHL to have any hope of being a callup to the NHL Mark Allan

August 2015 – With just one assist in 37 AHL and ECHL games combined, Ruopp solidified his reputation as a player who's much better using his stick for cross-checking instead of shooting, stickhandling or passing. He totalled 67 penalty minutes between the two leagues. The hard-hitting Prairie boy is on an AHL roster at the moment, but could find himself back in the ECHL. Mark Allan

March 2015 – A week after being demoted, the hard-hitting blueliner was promoted from the ECHL to the AHL's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The sophomore pro didn’t earn the promotion with slick stickhandling. In 30 games for Wheeling, he has nailed opponents to the tune of 58 penalty minutes while tossing in an accidental assist. The 22-year-old Prairie boy played in 21 Pittsburgh games last season, and has an outside chance of making it as a punishing defender. Mark Allan

December 2014 – The six-foot-three rawboned Saskatchewan native projects down the road as a hard-rock shutdown defenseman. He delights in rocking opponents with teeth-rattling hits. Applying a good hockey IQ strictly to defense, Ruopp had a minor penalty and no points in his only AHL game so far this season. In 10 games with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL, he has no points, 18 penalty minutes and a minus-5 rating. He’s a few seasons away from a shot at the NHL, especially considering Pittsburgh’s glut of stellar young blueliners. Mark Allan

April 2013 – Ruopp's junior team, the Prince Albert Raiders, were just knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. But his season will not end just yet, as the Penguins have signed him to an entry level contract. He will join their AHL affiliate. Ruopp finished the year with a career high 16 points. He was a willing combatant once again with 12 fighting majors, and ending with 132 penalty minutes. Seth Brisendine

February 2013 – Ruopp is having another quiet season up in Prince Albert. He has a new career high in points with 12 and a career high plus/minus of plus-11. He has also added 105 penalty minutes thus far. Ruopp is a rock on the backend and will be leaned on heavily to shutdown opposing teams’ top lines in the postseason. He will be given a shot at cracking the AHL team in Wilkes Barre-Scranton, but it will be tough given the Penguins depth at the defense position. Zenon Herasymiuk

July 2012 – Pittsburgh recently acquired Ruopp in a trade with the Yotes’. The Pens’ gave up Zbynek Michalek in the deal, so they must have faith in their return turning into a solid stay at home defenseman in the next few years. He will be going back to Prince Albert again this season and likely take the long AHL route in following seasons before being a consideration to the NHL roster. He has bulked up and is now tipping scales around 200, which is a positive step for him to be a force at the WHL level. Jason Banks

April 2012 – Ruopp is an all defense rearguard that plays a tough as nails game. Has only recorded 18 total points in three WHL seasons, but has been one of the few bright spots on the lowly Prince Albert Raiders. Some thought that the Coyotes may have reached a bit to take him in the third round, but he could turn out to be a diamond in the rough with his quite, physical style. Will need to make big leaps next year in his overall hockey sense and offensive involvement if he wants to prove the doubters wrong.

Fantasy Outlook: D-

Little to no offensive upside. Will take enough PIMs and rack up enough hits to at least get a bit of fantasy consideration.

Footage:

Ruopp sheds the flippers:

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