Rumored trades...

Ruutu is on JR’s list of “UNTOUCHABLES” not really worried about him going anywhere

…and ditto for any other Cane who is signed past this this year (although Pitkanen is a possibility-for the right deal.)

Reason: the Canes will not take on any salary in any deal, and any team willing to take on salary will only want to pay for the remainder of this year. Ruutu is young, physical, has huge upside, and is signed-he ain’t goin’ anywhere!

   Virtually every team would want to trade for Ruutu; but alas for them wanting Ruutu and getting Ruutu in a trade are very, very different concepts. Ruutu is one of those rare players who combines hard-hitting, with offensive and defensive skill. Ruutu is also a natural leader on and off the ice. Jim Rutherford has been very, very specific, I think, that Ruutu is one of the untouchable players. No other NHL team would pay the king’s ransom price Jim Rutherford would demand to even consider trading Ruutu.

1. Ray Whitney: almost certainly to be traded at some point this year, for a first round draft pick; if not a first round draft pick and a prospect. I predict Whitney is a rental and re-signs with Carolina;

2. Joe Corvo: I predict he is traded for a first round pick right at the March deadline. If not traded, he will be re-signed by Carolina.

3. Matt Cullen: as much as I admire Cullen, I think economics are such that he will be traded soon — for at minimum a second round pick. There is a 30% to 40% chance he is re-signed after being traded.

4. Wallin: I predict Wallin’s agent, crawls on his hands and knees to San Jose and a deal is ultimately made for a second round pick. 98% chance Wallin will not be re-signed.

5. Aaron Ward — right at the buzzer (the March deadline), I predict Aaron Ward is traded for a fifth or sixth round pick. Somebody will want his experience and will feel he can perform some minutes at a playoff level. 99.99999999% chance Aaron Ward will not be re-signed.

6. Scott Walker: given his injury situation, I think there is less than a 20% chance he will be traded and only a 20% chance he will be re-signed. Walker may retire after this season.

7. Brind’Amour: if Brind’Amour wants to play a year or two more, he will need to ask the Hurricanes for a trade; otherwise, Brind’Amour retires. I think there is a 25% chance some team will take Brind’Amour at the March trade deadline to take face-offs and as a penalty killer. He is a proven leader and his experience may well justify his being taken on; however, given his contract, there is a 75% chance Brind’Amour stays with Carolina. I think there is a 90S% chance if Brind’Amour is not traded that he retires at the end of this season.

8. LaRose: I think there is a 10% to 20% chance LaRose is traded as an energy wing who can move up to the second line and who has playoff experience.

9. Samsonov: I think there is a 20% chance Samsonov is traded to a team needing a play-maker who has playoff experience and who can get hot and become a scoring threat.

Besides Rutuu is under contract for two? more years, and has shown himself to be a core member of this team, as well as untouchable.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=26102

This article is well worth reading with respect to possible trades, including Whitney and Wallin.

Friend of mine with a blood relative within the Columbus Bluejacket org said we’ve had a scout (he named him) there for the past couple of nights.

But, then they all have to be somewhere, I suppose.