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Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford is now two for two when attempting to re-sign his players during the regular season. While I don’t believe the Hurricanes were planning on having a fire sale this year (despite Bryan Allen, Jaroslav Spacek, Tim Gleason, and Tuomo Ruutu being linked to trade rumors) it was beginning to look like this transition year was taking a step back. But after locking up Tim Gleason at the end of last month the Hurricanes announced that Tuomo Ruutu has also agreed to a contract extention.

Ruutu is currently on the last year of a three – year deal where he made $11.4 million dollars ($4.4million this season.) Today he’s agreed to a four – year deal worth $19 million, $4 million next season and then $5 million in the final three years. Reportedly the deal has a no – trade clause in the first three years.

I’d like to reiterate my previous thoughts on Ruutu:

“Listed at 6’0” and tipping the scales at 205 lbs Tuomo Ruutu has the Hurricanes second most hits with 106 on the season. He is (and has been) the physical force of Carolina’s top six – which comprises Jiri Tlusty, Drayson Bowman, Jeff Skinner, Jussi Jokinen, and Eric Staal. Since losing Erik Cole to the Montreal Canadien this past summer Tuomo Ruutu is the lone (effectively) physical top – six forward the Hurricane have left. Depending on which line he’s slotted into (the top line with Eric Staal or the second line with Jeff Skinner) he brings that proverbial grit that forces teams to adjust – or at least coach around. Perhaps as important if the Hurricanes traded Ruutu they wouldn’t have an immediate replacement; Patrick Dwyer (5’11” 175lbs) and Chad LaRose (5’10” 181 lbs) trail Ruutu in terms of hits – and both (especially Dwyer) are suited better in a bottom six role. And then, and this is subjective, there is the weight of the in-tangibles such as veteran leadership (to the top – six that only has two players over the age of 25), work ethic, and the type of person that he is. The first two can be seen and graded by his workout, pregame, and in game actions while the latter has been something that this organization has prided itself on finding (how else can you explain Patrick Dwyer having a job?) Like I’ve previously mentioned Jim Rutherford has rarely extended a players contract during the season (only two players since 2000) so the fact that he’s re-signed him during the season should (in a way) explain to you what type of person the organization feels like he is.”

Your call: Did the Hurricanes make the right move by re-signing Ruutu?

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