While teams are taking advantage of a seller-friendly trade market, the Carolina Hurricanes have decided to keep Tuomo Ruutu, agreeing to a four-year contract extension with the Finnish forward with, according to TSN.ca, a $4.75 million cap hit.
Ruutu has scored 17 goals with 13 assists in 57 games this season, on pace for his first 20-goal campaign since 2008-09. His decision to remain in Carolina means not only that there will be one less forward available as Monday's NHL trade deadline approaches, but when free agency comes around this summer, as well.
"I've still felt comfortable throughout the whole process. I've been sure about what I wanted to do, and I'm really happy that they wanted to have me here," Ruutu said.
Carolina does have a surplus of draft picks, having acquired San Jose's second-round choice in last year's Ian White trade, as well as the fourth-round selections of Boston and New Jersey. Still, had the Hurricanes decided to trade Ruutu in the current market conditions, GM Jim Rutherford may have been able to land a high pick or solid prospect, perhaps from a team looking for a rental alternative to Columbus' pricey Jeff Carter and Rick Nash.
"There are a few reasons (for the re-signings), and one is we're finding out there are less and less players of their caliber who are available (as free agents) after the season," GM Jim Rutherford told the Raleigh News & Observer.
"Another reason is their age. We have not had many who were to be (unrestricted) free agent who were in their 20s. Some we've let go were older players who, if you were to give them long-term contracts, you wonder where they will be in their third or fourth year. Age was an important factor with Tim and Tuomo."
