Adam Ruà ¾iÃÂka (born 11 May 1999) is a Slovak professional ice hockey player who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He has previously played for the Calgary Flames and Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League (NHL), and Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
Growing up in Slovakia, Ruà ¾iÃÂka trained at various hockey schools before joining the Pardubice U20 team. While with the U20 team, Ruà ¾iÃÂka accumulated 30 points through 30 games, before representing Slovakia at the IIHF World U18 Championship. His offensive abilities earned him attention from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and he was eventually drafted 14th overall by the Slovan Bratislava in the KHL Junior Draft. However, Ruà ¾iÃÂka chose to move to North America and play with the Sarnia Sting and Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). After being taken in the 2017 NHL entry draft 109th overall by the Calgary Flames, he developed within their system, playing in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Stockton Heat.
Ruà ¾iÃÂka was born on 11 May 1999, in Bratislava, Slovakia, to parents Iveta and Eduard. His father initially wished to enrol him in tennis but his mother persuaded him to choose ice hockey instead. Growing up, he played the position of centre and favoured Czech native JaromÃÂr Jágr of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Growing up in Slovakia, Ruà ¾iÃÂka trained at various hockey schools including Svià ¡à ¥ov run by Adriana Hostà ¯ovecká. He began playing organized hockey on various youth teams of Slovan Bratislava before joining the Pardubice U20 team. While with the U20 team, Ruà ¾iÃÂka accumulated 30 points through 30 games, before representing Slovakia at the IIHF World U18 Championship. In order to continue playing hockey, Ruà ¾iÃÂka and his mother lived in Pardubice for two years and he trained with an English tutor to improve his language skills. His offensive abilities earned him attention from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) and he was eventually drafted 14th overall by the Slovan Bratislava in the KHL Junior Draft. The Sarnia Sting of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) also selected Ruà ¾iÃÂka in the second round of the 2016 CHL Import Draft. He eventually chose to move to North America due to the disadvantage he experienced as a foreign player in the Czech Republic.
Ruà ¾iÃÂka moved to North America and joined the Sting for the 2016âÂÂ17 season. By December 2016, he ranked among the top five rookies in the CHL after tallying 12 goals and 22 points in Sarnia. During the month of December, Ruà ¾iÃÂka recorded a career-high four points in a 5âÂÂ4 win over the Guelph Storm and earned Player of the Week honors for the week ending 11 December 2016. He was also chosen to represent Team Cherry at the 2017 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game as a 2017 NHL entry draft eligible player. In January 2017, Ruà ¾iÃÂka was ranked 27th among all eligible North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau (CSS). Ruà ¾iÃÂka continued to improve as the season continued and scored 12 goals and 10 assists through the first 32 games of the season. Following this, he stated that he was still adapting to the Canadian style of hockey and hoped to improve during the remainder of the season. In March, he was named the OHL Rookie of the Month of February after he led all rookies with 12 points to help the Sting qualify for the Western Conference playoffs.
Ruà ¾iÃÂka finished fourth on the Sting in 2016âÂÂ17 with 25 goals and 21 assists for 46 points through 61 games. Ruà ¾iÃÂka's season earned him a spot on the end-of-season OHL Second All-Rookie Team and earned him some consideration as a prospect eligible for the NHL entry draft. The CSS also ranked Ruà ¾iÃÂka as the 37th-best North American skater eligible for the 2017 draft in their final rankings. Likewise, he was ranked 48th overall by the International Scouting Services and 59th overall by Future Considerations. Prior to the draft, hockey pundit Bob McKenzie placed Ruà ¾iÃÂka 77th on his draft board.
The Calgary Flames selected Ruà ¾iÃÂka in the fourth round, 109th overall, of the 2017 draft. Following the draft, Flames' scout Fred Parker praised his skills but acknowledged that he still struggled to figure out the North American game. He subsequently participated in the Flames' NHL Rookie Camp before returning to the Sting for the 2017âÂÂ18 OHL season. During the 2017âÂÂ18 season, he posted 36 goals and 72 points in 63 games, before being traded to the Sudbury Wolves during the 2018âÂÂ19 season in exchange for three draft picks.
Ruà ¾iÃÂka finished strong with the Wolves, tallying 24 goals and 41 points in 30 games to conclude the regular season. He also contributed 10 points in eight playoff games with Sudbury. On 12 April 2019, following the conclusion of the Wolves' season, Ruà ¾iÃÂka signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Flames.
Ruà ¾iÃÂka spent his entire first professional season with the Calgary Flames' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Stockton Heat, and posted 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 54 games. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Heat played the 2020âÂÂ21 season in Calgary as part of a newly formed Canadian Division. Stockton ultimately finished with an 11âÂÂ17âÂÂ2 record after losing 17 of its final 20 games. As a 21-year-old AHL sophomore, Ruà ¾iÃÂka led the Heat with 11 goals and 21 points in 28 games. The Flames recalled Ruà ¾iÃÂka from Stockton on 12 April 2021, but returned him to the AHL five days later without playing any NHL games. He set a Heat franchise record by recording four consecutive three-point games during the season. Ruà ¾iÃÂka made his NHL debut on 16 May 2021 in a 6âÂÂ5 overtime win over the Vancouver Canucks. He finished the season with three games played, registering one assist.
During the 2021âÂÂ22 season Ruà ¾iÃÂka split time between Calgary and Stockton, playing 28 games for the Flames, registering five goals and ten points, while playing 16 games for the Heat, scoring 11 goals and 20 points. He scored his first NHL goal on Adin Hill in a 5âÂÂ3 loss to the San Jose Sharks on 7 December 2021. On 21 September 2022, Ruà ¾iÃÂka signed a two-year extension keeping him in Calgary. He began the 2022âÂÂ23 season in great form, scoring 20 points in his first 25 games, playing on the first line. However, his play declined and he was shuffled lower in the lineup and eventually scratched all together. He was limited to just 19 games and fell out of favour with coach Darryl Sutter.
Ruà ¾iÃÂka began the 2023âÂÂ24 season with the Flames playing on the second line and was briefly playing at a point-a-game pace. However, his performance declined and he was replaced by rookies Connor Zary and Martin PospÃÂà ¡il. He played in 30 games, scoring three goals and six assists, but was a healthy scratch in his final game with the Flames. He was placed on waivers on 24 January 2024.
On 25 January 2024, Ruà ¾iÃÂka was claimed off of waivers by the Arizona Coyotes. He played in three games with the Coyotes, going scoreless. On 23 February 2024, the Coyotes placed Ruà ¾iÃÂka on unconditional waivers with the intention to terminate his contract, after Ruà ¾iÃÂka posted a video of himself on Instagram with a white powder resembling cocaine.
On 29 May 2024, Ruà ¾iÃÂka was signed to a one-year contract by Spartak Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), playing alongside his brother-in-law.
After a successful debut season in the KHL, Ruà ¾iÃÂka was re-signed to a two-year contract extension beginning from the 2025âÂÂ26 season on 21 August 2025.