Tuomo Ruutu, Hurricanes Agree to Four-Year Extension

[Canes13]

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward Tuomo Ruutu on a four-year contract extension. The deal will pay Ruutu $4 million in 2012-13, and $5 million per season in the 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

“Players like Tuomo are extremely difficult to replace, and it is very important for our franchise to keep him here long term,” said Rutherford. “Along with the physical elements and skill level that he brings on the ice, Tuomo is a popular leader in our locker room. We are very happy that he has committed to what we are building here, and is excited about what the future holds for the Hurricanes.”

Ruutu, 29, ranks second among Hurricanes skaters in goals (17) and fourth in points (30) in 57 games this season. The Vantaa, Finland, native is second on the team in hits (106) and tied for fourth on the team in plus/minus (+3). Ruutu played in his 500th career NHL game on Dec. 31 at Tampa Bay, and had a six-game point streak from Dec. 15-27 (5 goals, 2 assists).

Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks with the ninth overall selection of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Ruutu has totaled 128 goals, 167 assists (295 points) and 498 penalty minutes in 517 career NHL games with Chicago and Carolina. The Hurricanes acquired Ruutu from Chicago on Feb. 26, 2008, in exchange for Andrew Ladd, and he has earned 187 points (80g, 107a) in 289 games with Carolina. He established single-season career highs in goals (26) in 2008-09, and points (57) in 2010-11, and made his Stanley Cup playoff debut in 2009, helping the Hurricanes reach the Eastern Conference Final.

Ruutu has represented his native Finland in 10 major international tournaments, including the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, when Finland won bronze. He was third among all skaters in goals at the 2011 IIHF World Championship, leading Finland to the gold medal.

[thepolishkid88]

Huge news, and it means the market gets thinner and more desperate.

4 year deal according to Kyperos. My guess is $4 million or a bit under annually.

[fcm]

CAR and Tuomo Ruutu agree to terms on a four-year extension with an AAV of $4.75M. #TradeCentre #tsn.

Via Bob McKenzie

What an overpayment! But I'm happy to know that, because that means we'll receive more for Andrei Kostitsyn

[Thrillhouse]

4 years, $4.75M per year
https://twitter.com/#!/TSNBobMcKenzi...15335046193152

[thepolishkid88]

I threw up a little. James Neal makes $5 million a year for christ sake.

[FightingIsGood]

You've got to be kidding me? $4.75mm for Ruutu? Who the hell is his agent, because there's no way in hell he's worth that much. Thank God this was done after Neal's contract, or else the Pens would be paying at least a half a mil more.

[thepolishkid88]

HAHA AND A NO TRADE CLAUSE!!!!

Ruutu contract is four years at $4.75 million. No-trade clause first three years, Rutherford says.

https://twitter.com/#!/ice_chip

[thepolishkid88]

Originally Posted by FightingIsGood

You've got to be kidding me? $4.75mm for Ruutu? Who the hell is his agent, because there's no way in hell he's worth that much. Thank God this was done after Neal's contract, or else the Pens would be paying at least a half a mil more.

Perfect timing.

[Thrillhouse]

Grabov$$$ki

[Wadubbin]

So let me get this straight.You have a team with the 3rd worst point total in the league resigning the players that were considered to be the most likely to get moved.Instead of getting assets back that could help the team down the road.And then sign him to a stupid contract,and give him a no trade clause to boot.Rutherford's an idiot....

[JKidd]

Wow... I wonder if Rutherford has walked off a cliff or into some walls with all that fleece over his eyes from this deal.

Great for Ruutu, bad for the Canes. They now can't even trade him with that ugly contract and NTC.

[farcyde21]

I give it 3 weeks before he's fired.

[brymaster1]

Well someone has quite the negotiator on their side...

[Canes13]

Originally Posted by Wadubbin

So let me get this straight.You have a team with the 3rd worst point total in the league resigning the players that were considered to be the most likely to get moved.Instead of getting assets back that could help the team down the road.And then sign him to a stupid contract,and give him a no trade clause to boot.Rutherford's an idiot....

Typically it's more about leadership here and with Staal prone to slumps and losing confidence it makes sense. Both Gleason and Ruutu are leaders in the lockerroom on this team and with it being a team still borderline rebuilding he has spent enough to keep us at the cap floor next season while most likely playing younger players who won't have much cap hit. By the time Gleason and Ruutu come off the books Skinner, Faulk, and a number of other prospects expected to play next season will have new contracts to make up the difference. A full season without with Muller coaching instead of Maurice and I think it'll make more sense.

[kam]

I like Rutuu but damn, thats a little much.