Ruutu hopes to stay with Canes
Canes fans seem to appreciate Tuomo Ruutu and his sometimes rambunctious, often entertaining brand of hockey. When he controls the puck or smacks somebody into the boards at the RBC Center, there is the "R-UUUUU" rumble from the stands.
And guess what? Ruutu likes it here, too. A restricted free agent after the season, he made it clear this week that he hopes to stay with this team, in this city.
"I feel like it's home here," he said. "It was a big change coming from Chicago, but right away I felt like I came home.
"This season I realized it — that it's a great place to live and to play, as well."
Ruutu's happiness shows on and off the ice. Traded by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Canes last year for forward Andrew Ladd, Ruutu has a career-high 24 goals and 51 points this season playing on the top line with Eric Staal and now Erik Cole.
Ruutu, 26, has four game-winning goals, the last against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in the Canes' 2-1 victory in Newark. He also leads the Canes with 219 hits.
"After a couple of tough seasons (in Chicago), I kind of realized this is one of the last chances I might have," Ruutu said. "I knew I had to take advantage of it.
"I tried to work even harder and get back to where I've been before, and become an even better player. I knew I had to get the best out of myself, to get ice time and to stay in the league."
Ruutu, a native of Vantaa, Finland, signed a one-year deal with the Canes worth $2.25 million last June.
About the blogger
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is in his second season as the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at chip.alexander@newsobserver.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @ice_chip.
Comments
The economy
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 09:27 — hockeyhickHere's hoping that the economic crunch will change people's thinking on contracts:
Owners and GMs will have to be responsible in the way contracts are created. Term, guaranteed money, etc...will have to be creative given the real threat that the cap could go down over the next few seasons. Players will need to realize this and hopefully be reasonable in their demands. It is nice to hear players talk so highly of the area. Hopefully these sentiments will weigh in on their decision to re-sign.
It will definitely be an interesting offseason...
Hockeyhick
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 09:56 — esteban1949i agree with you 100%. Sadly, in history we all have read where some players from many different sports have gotten down right greedy. Yes the Economy will and can be a factor when it come to the off season contract talks. But when all is said and done, we shall see who does and gets what when it happens. Are you going to the game tonight ? If so,have fun!
Go Canes !!!
Not to slight
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 06:41 — esteban1949Any of the Other players, but JR NEEDS to resign the likes of Ruutu,Corvo, LaRose, but these 3 have been and more than earned the right to the respect they earned and deserved from their rfforts not only from the last 2 months of last season, but all season long this year. Yes, the coaching change did help everyone from
Capt. Rod on down to Conboy & Company from the Rats who are here for the rest of the run for a play off spot.
Yes players like Ruutu, like Rosie are now intrenched in the Fans hearts. So Jr, after 2 years of disappointment, would you please please, resign them and not dilly dally around. After all no matter where a player is from, don't they all deserve the same respect you do sir ?
And we fans must not also forget that in some cases ( more often than not) it can be a players agent/rep, that can cause many hold ups in getting a contract signed as well. As there have been agents who while trying to get the best deal & etc for a player ( who only wants to play ...even if it's only for a dollar a year) can get greedy and stupid ! So let us fans hope and yes say a prayer that things go well for the Canes the rest of this season, that the Canes who are UFA will return and keep what the team has at this very moment, so that the excitement, the intencity,skills, and heart they have will carry over into the 2009-2010 season and the Canes will be closer to the top at mid season then where the Canes were until recently. Then maybe,just maybe there won't be nearly as much JR & team ownership bashing as there was last year. What do yall think ?
Go Canes !!
damn right
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:40 — toddchrissruutu is the best hitter bbesides o v. the canes never had a player ever play with the intencity and ruutu.he comes everynight and brings the fire. if staal played with his physicalness, then he would be a beast.alah joe thorton. big and can score
Signings next season
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:21 — antI know it's way early to be looking at this, but we need to make a priority of signing Cole, Ruutuuuu, and NOT jerk around Larose again this season like they did last season. The core of the team needs to be kept intact, and those guys are crucial.
Chuck Kaiton
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:46 — GGillenBest line from right after Ruutu joined the Canes: "He leads the NHL in U's."
RUUUUUTTUUUUUUUU!!!
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 20:54 — asbrooksHow do you say 'there's no place like home' in Finnish??
SIGN HIM !!!!
RUUUUUUUUTTUUUUUUUUUU!!!
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 21:56 — lehti2208"Ei ole kodin vertaista" (there is no place like home) or
"Tunnen etta tama on kotini"(I feel like it's home here)
Tuomo is a hard worker and fun to watch!!!
SIGN HIM!!!
3 words JIMMY , SIGN
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 18:18 — jejohn83 words
JIMMY , SIGN HIM
Go Canes!!
Ruutu and the Hurricanes
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:26 — abramsdougRuutu earned everybody's respect when he first arrived at the RBC Center and jumped on to the ice. Seeing Ruutu at the RBC for the first time after having arrived five minutes before the game and then his mental toughness as he took the stick across his face are memories I will never forget. In many ways, Ruutu is as critical a leader for the Hurricanes as Staal, Whitney, Brind'Amour, and Gleason. I hope Jim Rutherford will sign Ruutu and that he, Staal, and Gleason can be leaders on the team for many years to come.
Agreed
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 22:35 — LainiencCouldn't have said it any better. Ruutu has quickly become one of our favorite Canes and there will be more incentive to maintain our season tickets if he's signed for the next couple of seasons. Go Canes !
Ruutu
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 17:04 — ammy144I agree 100%!!!!! I, too, remember his first game and the impact he made. I think many fans will feel the same way we do. HE needs to stay.