Let's Consider - Jarkko Ruutu

by FrankD on Jun 11, 2008 8:15 AM EDT in Rumors Comment 4 comments

Pittsburgh's pest and hometown favorite Jarkko Ruutu runs a chance of sporting another sweater next season. Will the guy who has elicited Ruuuuuuuuu's from the crowd stay amongst the fans who have come to admire him, or will he face the same fate of his brother Tuomo and be forced to jump ship?

Name	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
Jarkko Ruutu	71	6	10	16	138

Hey, no one said he's going to rack up 50 points a season. But penalty minutes? Well, that's another story. At times Ruutu found himself in the role of enforcer, backing up guys like Malkin and Crosby, while also forming a Mighty Ducks 2-esque "Bash Brothers" bond with Georges Laraque and Gary Roberts. A team needs a guy like Ruutu. This time of the year though, needs and wants come in the form of dollar signs.

Is it necessary to hold onto a guy like Ruutu? A phenomenal contributor in the shootout, Ruutu built a cult following with the fans in Pitt and even earned a level of high regard when it came to shootout rounds. Both he and Kris Letang were the two best in the shootout for the Penguins this past season.

Consider this - Roberts, who has already retired once due to injuries, may come to a permanent decision sooner than later. Despite proclamations that he's not exactly done playing hockey yet, you have to factor it in regardless. Even signing Roberts runs a risk of having him out a few games next season.

As far as enforcers go, this leaves both Ruutu and Laraque as potential fills for the void left behind by the 42-year-old intimidator. Do you try and hold on to Ruutu? Do you try and budget a package deal with Ruu and Laraque? Or do you bid farewell to both in hopes of finding a replacement on the market or a younger, more affordable guy from the WBS squad?

Chime in friends.

0 recs | Comment 4 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I want Ruutu

I’d rather keep Ruutu than Roberts or Laraque… I like having Laraque on the team, but honestly… Ruutu can fill that position; especially in the new NHL when fights are almost rare. Ruutu can bring some offense, he is solid on defense and can fill the agitator/enforcer role pretty well. He doesn’t fight too often, but when he does.. he usually wins(or at least has lately). He’s not going to fare well against any of the heavies… but then again.. there is many true heavies left in the NHL.

Hopefully Ruutu stays with the Pens.

Go 'Stros!

by Stros Bro on Jun 11, 2008 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Like you said, the heavies are on their way out of the NHL. Guys like Derian Hatcher spend more time in the box than on the ice, guys like Laraque hardly get a roster spot (and when they do little ice-time) so I think a guy like Ruutu has a slight edge of Georges and Roberts. Roberts is just very injury prone at this late stage in his career and may pose as more of a liability than anything else, not to mention a potential waste of cap space for a team that is trying to cling to the keepers.

FrankD from Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jun 12, 2008 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that I would take Ruutu over Laraque as well, for his play. Plus, it isn’t really Laraque we see doing all the fighting these days. A lot of fights (and there really aren’t a ton anymore) are coming from odd sources, Tyler Kennedy, Ryan Malone, Ryan Whitney. It seems like they can back up their play, and get ice time, better than Laraque. I really like Laraque though, his salary isn’t too big, and his stock hasn’t really risen or fallen significantly in the last season, so there may be room to keep him.

Roberts sounds like he might retire this year. So that may make room to resign someone, but whether that will be Ruutu remains to be seen.

by Dayna on Jun 12, 2008 8:38 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree. I have a soft sport for BGL though. I just start laughing everyime I see him, he’s a 245 pound bear on ice skates.

However, with that being said if we can lock up Malone and Ruuuu will have enough enforcment from our offense. Both of those guys are solid scrapers, and Malone can score too.

by JDMaker1 on Jun 12, 2008 9:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs