Last week, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said his club would definitely be a buyer come deadline day -- and he’s made good on that promise, acquiring Finnish winger Tuomo Ruutu from Carolina.
In exchange, the ‘Canes will get Russian forward Andrei Loktionov and a conditional third-round pick in 2017.
Ruutu, 31, is in the second of a four-year, $19 million deal with a $4.75 million cap hit. He’s struggled with injuries over the last two seasons and hasn’t found his form this year, scoring just five goals and 16 points in 57 games, averaging 14:15 TOI per night.
Ruutu has spent the last seven years in Carolina and had a solid season in 2010-11, when he scored 19 goals and 57 points while appearing in all 82 games. Since then, though, he’s been derailed by concussion and hip issues.
‘Canes GM Jim Rutherford has already addressed the trade via Twitter:Andrei is a young, skilled forward who will play on our power play.
— Jim Rutherford (@HurricanesGM) March 5, 2014Tuomo was a good player for the Hurricanes and we thank him for his contributions to our organization over the past seven years.
— Jim Rutherford (@HurricanesGM) March 5, 2014Loktionov, 23, is on a one-year deal worth $725,000, so this is shaping up to be a major salary dump for Carolina.