Forward Patrick O’Sullivan has been claimed on waivers by the Minnesota Wild, the Carolina Hurricanes announced shortly after noon today.

Signed by the Hurricanes as a free agent on the opening day of training camp, O’Sullivan, 25, scored one goal in 10 games with the team this season.

Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said today that forward Patrick O'Sullivan had been placed on waivers, adding that sending him to Charlotte (AHL) was "one option."

"Unfortunately for him, he hasn't been put in a position where he can best succeed at," Rutherford said. "He did not dress for some games. He has had limited playing time. For him to be the player he can be, he needs to be in the top nine (forwards) but the opportunity has not opened up for him.

"We're trying to clean up our roster. We'll see what happens."

For forward Patrick O'Sullivan, watching Canes games from the press box is absolutely the worst place to be.

For the last seven games, that's where O'Sullivan has been: up high in the arena, in a suit, watching, waiting -- a healthy scratch. But that will end this week, Canes coach Paul Maurice said today, as O'Sullivan will replace Jiri Tlusty in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Ottawa Senators at the RBC Center.

"I don't have any experience going through a situation like that, so it's been really frustrating," O'Sullivan said. "At the same time, I've worked as hard as I can and I feel good on the ice. I can definitely do all the skating drills there are in the world."

Canes coach Paul Maurice said today he expects no lineup changes for Tuesday's game against the Edmonton Oilers at the RBC Center.

Maurice still is not sure if defenseman Joni Pitkanen will be able to return from an upper-body injury, calling Pitkanen's status "day-to-day." Pitkanen, who has missed the last two games, was at practice today at the RBC Center but wearing a yellow, no-contact jersey.

"Joni's healing well and getting stronger," Maurice said. "There's a possibility for tomorrow but that decision's not getting made until everybody checks off on it. It will be tomorrow."

PHILADELPHIA  — Canes coach Paul Maurice wasn't sure until today's morning skate how his centermen might line up tonight.

Tuomo Ruutu has been bothered by a lower-body concern for a few games. Maurice wanted to take a good look at Ruutu at the skate before making any decisions about tonight's game against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.

But Ruutu was moving well and good to go. He'll again center the line with Jeff Skinner and Erik Cole.

"He feels better today than he has for the week," Maurice said of Ruutu. "Not skating yesterday helped."

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Canes coach Paul Maurice said forward Sergei Samsonov would rejoin the lineup tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes and that Patrick O'Sullivan would be a healthy scratch.

Maurice wanted to wait until after the morning skate today to see about the status of Samsonov, who has missed the last two games, and center Brandon Sutter, who had an upper-body concern.

"He feels better, he feel stronger," Maurice said of Sutter, who has not missed any playing time. "We were hopeful of that, that after some days off (between games) he would have better strength. He's ready."

The last 24 hours, Patrick O'Sullivan said, have been pretty hectic but he's glad to be in North Carolina and glad to be with the Hurricanes.

"I think this is a good opportunity for me," the forward said today. "Everyone is aware there are jobs available, and there will be a lot of guys competing for those jobs.

"I feel this is a good fit for me. I'm excited about the opportunity. This team is definitely better than it showed last year. There are a lot of good, young players and veterans who have been through the wars. It seems to me to be a recipe for a very good team."

According to a report by Canadian network TSN, the Hurricanes are close to finalizing a one-year, two-way deal with Patrick O'Sullivan, the first NHL player from North Carolina.

"He will be in Raleigh for a physical, and we are trying to finalize a deal," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said Thursday night in a statement relased via Twitter.