Senators ink LW Ruutu

Jul 3, 2008 - 3:10 AM OTTAWA (Ticker) -- The Ottawa Senators got a lot peskier Wednesday, signing left wing Jarkko Ruutu to a three-year contract.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but TSN of Canada is reporting the deal is worth $3.9 million.

One of the NHL's biggest pests, the 6-1, 200-pound Ruutu recorded six goals and career highs of 10 assists and 138 penalty minutes for the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins last season. The 32-year-old Finn has collected 36 tallies, 83 points and 716 penalty minutes in 419 career contests with the Vancouver Canucks and Penguins.

"I don't think he scores like a Sean Avery or has quite that offensive ability, but he brings lots to the table," Senators general manager Bryan Murray said. "He's bigger, he's competitive and he battles. He's an agitator, there's no question. He brings a dimension that those types of players do, and I think that's a good thing for a hockey team."

A third-round pick of Vancouver in 1998, Ruutu has represented his country at both the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics as well as six IIHF World Championships. He is the older brother of Carolina's Tuomo Ruutu and Mikko Ruutu, a seventh-round selection of Ottawa in 1999.

Mikko currently is a scout for Ottawa, which Murray admitted played a role in the Finnish agitator's decision to become a Senator.

"He's a big body, a strong guy with strong character," Murray said of Jarkko. "He's a good guy. His brother works for us, and he's a good guy. He's certainly a guy that plays a good role."