Short tidbit from ESPN's Pierre LeBrun:
We got word overnight that the Pittsburgh Penguins have held talks with the Ottawa Senators about reacquiring pest Jarkko Ruutu. We're not sure if this is going to go anywhere, but it's interesting to see the Pens (if our source is correct) even entertain the idea. This is a team that lost lots of sandpaper last summer when Ruutu, Ryan Malone and Georges Laraque all flew the coup.
Pensburgh take: don't believe it. The Pens were interested in signing Ruutu, but they didn't want to give him a third year on a contract, so Ruutu went to Ottawa (who did give him the 3rd year).
The Penguins just added a player in Chris Kunitz that plays physical in the corners, and also have guys like Tyler Kennedy and Matt Cooke on the top three lines.
A couple weeks ago it looked like the Pens could have used an infusion of energy and the spark that a pest like Ruutu can provide. At this point though, he's not needed and his contract figure still can't be appealing to Ray Shero.
If the Pens and Sens are talking though, perhaps they could work something out involving a guy like Antoine Vermette, as we have suggested here before.