News Article: Great news on Rutuu

[Zombie Mike Murphy]

But Rutherford said this week that March 15 was the date doctors will decide if Ruutu can be cleared to return to practice. And Canes coach Kirk Muller said Sunday that once he's back in practices it may not take long for him to be ready to play.

"Hopefully by next week we get the green light from him," Muller said. "I think it will start off as team practices, then physical contact. He's a guy who has kept himself in pretty good shape. I think once it starts, as far as practices, I don't think he's too far off.

http://blogs.newsobserver.com/canes/ruutu-could-return-sooner-than-expected

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[Finlandia WOAT]

 

[HisIceness]

Excellent.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

Great!

 

[Anton Dubinchuk]

Yeah if he's back in like 2 weeks, this team could be lethal.

I realize it puts Jussi or Dwyer in a tough spot, but a Wallace - Nash - Ruutu line would be fun to watch.

 

[Ole Gil]

Definitely some interesting possibilities with him available.

 

[DaveG]

Was hoping by the end of the season. By the end of March? jesus, probably adding a #4 dman away from being a legit contender assuming Pitkanen's healthy by then and Ward's back by the playoffs.

 

[Novacane]

Very excited to see this team with him in the lineup.

 

[Lucky Lindy]

DaveG

Pitkänen and healthy in the same sentence?

 

[Finlandia WOAT]

Sweet TEA
Ruutu-Jordan-Skinner
Jokinen-Nash-Terry (has Terry earned a few more games' worth of a look?)
Dwyer-Brent-Wallace
LaRose

Really liking that lineup.

 

[Zombie Mike Murphy]

I think DrayBo deserves a look in there somewhere. Not sure where. Nice problem to have for a change, I guess.

 

[Mr Whipple]

Awesome!

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

 

[Roboturner913]

Wow, great news. Even if he only plays at his floor the offense will be significantly improved.

I think right now he would fit on the second line pretty well. That would solve a lot of the issues with people targeting Skinner. Although I can see a reunited Ruutu/Jokinen line being a good place to start him out too.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

No idea how it'd work, but what about reuniting the "Skinns N' Finns" line?

 

[Zombie Mike Murphy]

No idea how it'd work, but what about reuniting the "Skinns N' Finns" line?

Not sure how that works...as you'd in essence be bumping either JStall or Skinner to the 3rd line.

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Not sure how that works...as you'd in essence be bumping either JStall or Skinner to the 3rd line.

which is exactly why I have no idea how it'd work

 

[Roboturner913]

No idea how it'd work, but what about reuniting the "Skinns N' Finns" line?

It leaves Jordan with guys like Dwyer/Terry/Wallace/Bowman/LaRose on his line. Solution: trade for Tyler Kennedy.

 

[SeaBasstian]

Ruutu on the 2nd with Jordan and Ruutu works perfectly. He is that glue guy THEY have been looking for and hadnt really found in Dwyer, Wallace, or Jokinen. Dwyer was close, but hasnt continued to work. Ruutu there would be absolute aces.

 

[Zombie Mike Murphy]

The fanbase will never tolerate Skinner on the 3rd line.

Maybe with this many healthy, as much as I hesitate to do this.... what about something like...

Semin-JStall-EStall
Skins'n'Finns
Tlusty-Nash-Wallace
plugs

 

[Gr8Dan]

The fanbase will never tolerate Skinner on the 3rd line.

Maybe with this many healthy, as much as I hesitate to do this.... what about something like...

Semin-JStall-EStall
Skins'n'Finns
Tlusty-Nash-Wallace
plugs

Why in the world would you break up the 1st line??? Its money right now.

Keep Jstaal with skinner and add ruutu. Jokinen and Nash were really clicking when they played together.

Tlusty EStaal Semin
Skinner JStaal Ruutu
Jokinen Nash Dwyer
Wallace Brent Bowman

 

[Carolinas Identity*]

Why in the world would you break up the 1st line??? Its money right now.

Keep Jstaal with skinner and add ruutu. Jokinen and Nash were really clicking when they played together.

Tlusty EStaal Semin
Skinner JStaal Ruutu
Jokinen Nash Dwyer
Wallace Brent Bowman

so excited for this top 9. We are so balanced, it's actually kinda scary. Our team is so deep (at forward) that we're debating who is gonna get relegated to the third line.

Very nice problem to have, and potentially makes trading for a top 4 defenceman that much easier cause our hole to fill goes from being top six to bottom six.

 

[nobuddy]

Who is this Rutuu fellow?

 

[Anton Babchuk]

Who is this Rutuu fellow?

I don't know. Is he related to this guy?

 

[Roboturner913]

Why in the world would you break up the 1st line??? Its money right now.

Keep Jstaal with skinner and add ruutu. Jokinen and Nash were really clicking when they played together.

Tlusty EStaal Semin
Skinner JStaal Ruutu
Jokinen Nash Dwyer
Wallace Brent Bowman

LaRose+Bowman (or whatever it takes, within reason) to Pittsburgh for Tyler Kennedy.

Tlusty-Staal-Semin
Skinner-Staal-Kennedy
Jokinen-Nash-Ruutu
Wallace-Brent-Dwyer

You have a natural center on all four lines, players with known chemistry together on each of the top 3 lines, and a hard-working 4th line with a little bit of everything.