Canes general manager Jim Rutherford had never negotiated a new contract with a player during a season until this season.

Now, he might do it again.

Rutherford, who recently signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year contract extension, said Monday he would be holding "an important meeting" with forward Tuomo Ruutu this week during the Canes' three-game road trip. Ruutu is due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

"I want to talk to him about where he's at, this season and in the future," Rutherford said. "We'll talk about that and see where it goes. We're closing in on the (NHL) trade deadline, so we need to make a decision."

The Canes on Monday placed forward Anthony Stewart on waivers, general manager Jim Rutherford said after the team arrived in Anaheim.

"With us getting a look at some guys who have been called up from Charlotte (AHL) and have played well for us, we decided to put Anthony on waivers," Rutherford said. "If he is picked up by another team, it will give another opportunity to one or two players who have played well."

NHL teams have until noon Tuesday to claim Stewart from waivers. Rutherford said if Stewart clears waivers he will play Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks.

The Canes placed forward Anthony Stewart on waivers today, TSN is reporting.

Stewart was signed to a free-agent contract in July by Carolina after the Winnipeg Jets did not make him a qualifying offer. The two-year deal pays him $800,000 this season and $1 million next season.

In 50 games for the Canes, Stewart has six goals and seven assists, and has been used primarily on the fourth line by coach Kirk Muller. Stewart's plus-4 rating is the best on the team.

NHL teams have until noon Tuesday to claim Stewart on waivers.

The Canes have reassigned forward Riley Nash to the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Nash, 22, played three games with the Hurricanes following his Jan. 30 recall. He has recorded one assist and averaged 10:34 of ice time in five games for the Hurricanes this season.

Nash has scored six goals and earned 12 assists  in 41 games with the Checkers this season.

A week ago, some hockey "insiders" were saying a Tuomo Ruutu trade was "imminent."

A week later, there's talk Canes general manager Jim Rutherford may be negotiating a contract extension for the hard-charging forward, who's due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.

Question: when all is said and done, which will it be? Will Ruutu be traded before the deadline or re-signed? More so, which would be the best move for the Canes in moving forward and looking to next season?

The floor is open.

The Canes are headed West and they'll be taking a few extra bodies along.

Chad LaRose, out the past two games with flu-like symptoms, was at practice today at the RBC Center. LaRose is ready to rejoin the lineup, but Canes coach Kirk Muller said an extra forward likely would be on the three-game trip to Anaheim, Colorado and Montreal.

The Canes also have an extra defenseman. Derek Joslin has been a healthy scratch the past two games with the return of Jaroslav Spacek.

RALEIGH — In the grand scheme of things, moving out of last place in the Eastern Conference may not seem all that notable.

But the Canes will take it, and especially after a hard-working 2-1 victory Saturday over the Los Angeles Kings at the RBC Center.

Jeff Skinner and Jiri Tlusty scored, Cam Ward again was rock-solid in net and the Hurricanes overcame a slumbering start to lift their record to 20-25-9. With 49 points, they moved out of 15th place and ahead of the Montreal Canadiens in the East.

"It looks nicer," Canes coach Kirk Muller said of the standings. "But the key is the way we've been playing. The nice thing now is we're finding ways to pick up points in these tight games as opposed to a month ago."

Which was more impressive Thursday night, Sam Gagner's eight-point game for the Edmonton Oilers or the Canes finishing off a season sweep of the Boston Bruins?

Gagner's big night grabbed most of the NHL headlines and had the Twitterverse ablaze. But the Canes beat the Bruins 3-0 for the first regular-season series sweep in franchise history, and did it against a team that's the defending Stanley Cup champions.

"It's a credit to the guys. When we play like that we're capable of beating very good teams," goaltender Cam Ward said after the shutout. "It's no secret. They're once again Stanley Cup contenders and to beat them four times is a huge compliment to our team.

"But we need to play every team like they're the Boston Bruins, because they seem to bring out the best in us."

The Canes have recalled forward Drayson Bowman from the Charlotte Checkers (AHL).

Hurricanes forward Chad LaRose is day-to-day due to illness. Coach Kirk Muller said LaRose, who missed practice Wednesday, was slowed by flu-like symptoms.

Bowman, 22, has skated in 13 NHL games for Carolina this season, registering two goals and three assists. He has totaled 11 goals and 11 assists in 34 AHL games with Charlotte in 2011-12, and is second among Checkers forwards in plus/minus (plus-3). 

The Canes' Chad LaRose missed practice today with flu-like symptoms, coach Kirk Muller said, but should be ready for Thursday's road game against the Boston Bruins.

Muller also said defenseman Jaroslav Spacek, who has missed the last six games with an upper-body injury, could return to the lineup. If Spacek can play Thursday, that would make Derek Joslin a healthy scratch.

The Canes will be seeking to complete the first season sweep of the Bruins in franchise history. Carolina beat Boston twice in October, early in the season, then topped the Bruins 4-2 at the RBC Center on Jan. 14.

"I think the big part of our focus is we've got to play our game," Muller said. "Boston is a team that can play physical and they play hard in their barn. We can't get caught up in that kind of stuff."