The Fourth Period :: Carolina Hurricanes :: Ruutu bracing for inevitable trade


January 31, 2012 \| 3:35pm ET

Ruutu bracing for inevitable trade
TheFourthPeriod.com

The Hurricanes have already traded away one player and re-signed another this month, and more transactions are expected in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

Carolina GM Jim Rutherford dealt winger Alexei Ponikarovsky to New Jersey on Jan. 20, and signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year extension yesterday.

Several players remain on the trade block, including defensemen Joni Pitkanen, Bryan Allen and Jaroslav Spacek, and forward Tuomo Ruutu.

Ruutu, 28, is considered one of the most coveted scoring forwards available for trade.

According to one team source, the Hurricanes haven't open contract talks with Ruutu and aren't expected to before the deadline.

Ruutu is currently making $4.4 million this season, though his cap hit is $3.8 million.

More Trade Deadline Info
List of Trades | No-Trade/No-Movement Clauses | Top 25 Available Players | Team-by-Team Cap Info