Carolina Hurricanes keep Tuomo Ruutu in-house with four-year, $19 million -NHL Update
Carolina invested heavily in keeping one of their top players as the Hurricanes announced a long-term, four-year contract for veteran centre, Tuomo Ruutu, worth a reported $19 million on Wednesday, February 22, 2012.
The 29-year-old player was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2011-2012 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season after the expiration of his previous three-year, $11.4 million, but instead of letting him test the market, Carolina
decided to keep him on.
Usually teams go into the free market and let their players test the agency in order to pick up some more talent, but in the case of Ruutu, it would be illogical to eye any other player since Carolina has an all-rounder in him already.
"Players like Tuomo are extremely difficult to replace, and it is very important for our franchise to keep him here long term," Carolina GM, Jim Rutherford, told the Hurricanes' website. "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."
Having spent nearly five straight seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuomo Ruutu seems to be happy exactly where he is, especially with the big pay increase he has now gotten.
Compared to his old salary cap hit which ranged from $3 million to $4.4 million, Ruutu will now be making $4 million next season and an extra $1 million each season after that until his new contract comes to an end after the 2015-2016 regular season.
The Vantaa, Finland native, has played in 57 games with Carolina so far this season and has a total of 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists).
He was picked up as the ninth overall prospect during the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by Chicago Blackhawks and spent nearly four seasons with the team before being traded off to Carolina during 2007-2008.
With the contract negotiation process now done and over with, Tuomo Ruutu will now have the time to focus more on his performance and abilities as a player.
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