Vancouver Canucks Sign Tuomo Ruutu and James Sheppard to PTOs
The Vancouver Canucks will have a couple of NHL veterans coming to training camp in Whistler this year.
According to a report from Ben Kuzma of The Province, Vancouver Canucks GM Jim Benning confirmed this morning that forwards Tuomo Ruutu, 33, and James Sheppard, 28, will be coming to training camp this year.
Benning confirms PTOs for C/LW James Sheppard, 28, and RW Tuomo Ruutu, 33. #Canucks
— Ben Kuzma (@benkuzma) September 13, 2016
I discussed the possibility of Sheppard coming to training camp here, and overall I thought it was a move that made sense, as Sheppard could fit in as the fourth-line centre.
Ruutu is a much more interesting case. He’s a former ninth-overall draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, and younger brother of former Canucks Jarkko Ruutu.
Tuomo is much more skilled than brother Jarkko but has never quite lived up to the expectations that come with being a top ten NHL draft pick. He’s been injury-plagued for much of his career and his best seasons came in 2008-09 when he had a career-high 26 goals and in 2010-11 when he had a career-high 57 points, both with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Last year was Ruutu’s worst statistically as he only skated in 33 games and only had one assist to show for it. He has been in a downward spiral since signing a four-year contract extension in the 2011-12 season, which was the last season he hit double digits in goals, with Carolina. It’s clear his best days are behind him.
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Of course, teams often sign veterans to try-outs just to have a bit more veteran leadership at training camp. With Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, Loui Eriksson, Jannik Hansen and Luca Sbisa all likely missing most if not all of the Canucks pre-season, that is something that will be more important this year.
However, Ruutu wouldn’t accept an invite to training camp if he didn’t think he had a legitimate shot at making the team. Ruutu will be gifted every opportunity to show that he still has the ability to be a serviceable NHLer. If he wants to make the team, he’ll have to take that opportunity and run with it and put in the kind of performance that you just can’t say no to.
Personally, I find the idea of having James Sheppard in the line-up much more appealing. Sheppard has youth on his side and can give Markus Granlund the opportunity to develop more in the AHL, which is something I find personally appealing.
Ruutu will have to battle with guys like Alex Burrows, Derek Dorsett, Jake Virtanen and Emerson Etem in order to make the team this year. I would much rather have those guys playing fourth line minutes as Ruutu plays a style of game that is much more suited to a top six role, but he just doesn’t have the skill level to do it anymore.
The Canucks open training camp on September 23 and play their first preseason game on September 27.
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