Ruutu returned for just one game after missing four, but finds himself back on IR with a lower-body injury. The Devils recalled Jim O’Brien to take Ruutu’s spot in the lineup.
Ruutu missed Monday’s practice and will not play on Tuesday due to an illness. Ruutu has no points on the season, so he should be considered in fantasy circles.
Ruutu has been sidelined since October 16th, but will return to the Devils lineup on Thursday vs. the Panthers. He had no points while averaging 11:27 TOI in three games this season. Ruutu will skate on the fourth line with Stephen Gionta and Jordin Tootoo.
The Devils originally called Ruutu’s injury a bruise, but it was revealed this afternoon that he suffered a fractured right foot and it will keep him out of the lineup for at least one month. With Ruutu out until late-November to early-December, the Devils claimed Bobby Farnham off of waivers from Pittsburgh today.
Ruutu has missed the last three games with an illness, but he must be healthy enough to be in the lineup tonight vs. the Maple Leafs. Ruutu has eight points (5G / 3A) in 43 games this season.
The Devils will take on the Sharks on Monday and Ruutu is reportedly feeling better, but he has yet to resume skating since getting sick, so he will miss his third consecutive game.
The Devils announced earlier in the day that one of either Ruutu or Jaromir Jagr would go on IR and they chose Ruutu. His placement on IR allowed the team to activate Eric Gelinas.
Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said Ruutu is “quite sick” and the chances of him playing on the road-trip are “not very good”.
Ruutu missed another practice on Monday and the Devils are not sure if Ruutu will travel with the team on Tuesday because he is under the weather.
Ruutu, 31, has two years left in a deal with an annual cap-hit of $4.75 million US. Ruutu is not the fastest player and he joins one of the slowest teams in the NHL. Ruutu had five goals and 11 assists with a minus-19 rating with the Hurricanes. A change of scenery might be able to revitalize Ruutu.
Ruutu played 10:28 in his return to the Hurricanes lineup last night. He didn't record a point and was a minus-1. A move to the top-line definitely boosts his fantasy value and makes him a potential 20-goal scorer if he can stay healthy.
Ruutu has four goals and five assists in 17 games last season.
This is the first time that Ruutu has skated on a regular line, opposed to being an extra. It could be a sign that he will return to the lineup tomorrow vs. Phoenix, but consider him questionable.
Ruutu was placed on IR retroactive to September 21st, so he is eligible to return whenever he is ready. This is a positive step that Ruutu is nearing a return.
He appeared in only 17 games last season, registering four goals and five assists (9 points). In his last full season, Ruutu played in 72 games scoring 18 goals and adding 16 assists. The 30-year-old is an injury risk, but if he gets off to a hot start in his return he could hold some sneaky fantasy value on a good Hurricanes offense.
Rutherford also said the the injury has nothing to do with Ruutu's hip that required surgery in May. The week-to-week status suggests he will not be available for the Hurricanes season opener and could miss more than a few games to start the season. While Ruutu has had a hard time staying healthy in the past two years (missed 41 games combined) he had 57 points in 82 games in 2010-11. Once he is healthy he should become fantasy relevant again.
His status for the October 4th season opener is still unknown. Consider him day-to-day.
Ruutu missed the Hurricanes last two games with a groin injury. He sat out the first 29 games of the season after having hip surgery. He has three assists in four games. Ruutu will play on a line with Jeff Skinner and Jordan Staal.
Ruutu will miss his second straight game with a groin injury. If he could stay healthy he would be a worthwhile fantasy player but that is a big if.
Ruutu left Saturday's game with a lower-body and did not return. This is what we have come to expect from Ruutu, he is a good player (3 A in 4 games) but he has a hard time staying healthy. He won't be in the lineup tonight when the Hurricanes take on the Habs.
