Canes re-sign Ruutu

Center accepts minimum offer

From the big hit on his first shift with the Carolina Hurricanes, Tuomo Ruutu made quite an impression in his brief stint with the team at the end of last season.

According to his agent, the Hurricanes made an impression on Ruutu as well. The restricted free agent re-signed with the NHL team on Tuesday, a one-year contract worth $2.25 million.

"He's real happy there," Bill Zito, his agent, said. "Sometimes guys need a fresh start, probably like anybody else in life. It's weird how just really a change of scenery sometimes can get a guy going and get him his confidence. ...

"He fits well in their system. He likes the guys, likes the coach. He's happy and content, a hard-working guy who's real excited. He was devastated not to make the playoffs. I've known him since he was 16 and never seen him as sad or upset. He's got a lot to prove. He's pretty fired up."

Ruutu, a center, had 11 points in 17 games with Carolina after coming over from the Chicago Blackhawks in a trade-deadline deal for Andrew Ladd.

Ruutu accepted his qualifying offer -- the minimum offer the Canes had to make to retain his rights. General manager Jim Rutherford said there were discussions about a multi-year contract, but without resolution.

"We both would have done long-term deals," Rutherford said. "It's just what makes the most sense from our point of view and their point of view, and they just didn't match. If he has the year he's capable of having, he's in line to get a good raise. If not, then we'll just go one year at a time."

The Canes intend to issue qualifying offers to all of their restricted free agents except minor-league goalie Kevin Nastiuk. Those offers are due today.

Also Tuesday, David Tanabe and Jeff Hamilton cleared waivers, the first step in the buyout process. The Canes placed them on waivers Monday with the intention of buying out their contracts. Tanabe has one year left at $900,000, and Hamilton has one year left at $800,000.

Though Rutherford said the Hurricanes have submitted buyout paperwork on Tanabe and on Hamilton, those buyouts cannot go forward without each player receiving a clean bill of health.

Tanabe hasn't played since December because of a concussion and Hamilton had hip surgery in April.

Zito, Ruutu's agent, also represents Hamilton and said he didn't "foresee any drama with regard to it," but Rutherford acknowledged Tanabe has not been cleared by doctors.

"If there are issues from an injury point of view, that's something that we'll have to take under consideration," Rutherford said.

The uniform NHL player contract stipulates that an injured player will receive his salary as long as he is unable to play or until the contract expires.

Tanabe's agent, Neil Sheehy, said he planned to "enforce David's rights under the CBA [labor agreement]" and the NHL Players' Association is watching the situation as well.

"Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, clubs are not permitted to buy out injured players, such as David Tanabe," NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said. "If the terms of the CBA are not followed in David's case, the NHLPA will exercise all of its rights under the agreement."