Ruutu ready for new NHL season with Canucks

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000

By Lucas Aykroyd

“No surprises to me. His game is the same every day. He’s such a competitor, such a pest.” That’s how Kansas City Blades Head Coach Stan Smyl recently described Jarkko Ruutu, a gritty 25-year-old Finnish right winger from Helsinki. And that consistency may win the IFK Helsinki graduate a job with the Vancouver Canucks. Chosen 68th overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Ruutu enjoyed his first pro season in North America last year, posting 26 goals, 32 assists, and 164 penalty minutes in 65 games with Vancouver’s then-AHL affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. A 15-point January earned him Rookie of the Month honors, and he tied for the league plus-minus lead at +33. Although he didn’t have much impact in the eight games he played in the NHL, the 6-2, 194-pound forward looks poised to take the next step up now. EuroReport’s Lucas Aykroyd spoke with Ruutu after practice at the Canucks secondary training camp at Burnaby 8-Rinks outside Vancouver.

EuroReport: What do you think of your play in training camp so far?

Jarkko Ruutu: It hasn’t been the greatest, but it hasn’t been bad. I’m fairly satisfied. I hope I get a chance to play in the exhibition games and show that I can play there.

EuroReport: How does your physical conditioning compare to where you were last year?

Ruutu: Actually, I’m very happy the way I am right now. I’m about the same as last year, but I feel a lot stronger and fresher. I did things a little differently than last summer, and I hope to get a lot better start this year than last year.

EuroReport: What areas of your game have the coaches asked you to work on?

Ruutu: Nothing, really. Just to play my game. That’s what I was drafted for, and I have to keep playing the same way.

EuroReport: How hard was it to come to terms on your new contract this summer?

Ruutu: It wasn’t that hard. It came together pretty quickly. The team has the power, so it was pretty simple.

EuroReport: How comfortable did you feel in your first pro season in North America?

Ruutu: I struggled the first two or three months, but after Christmas I played pretty good. I started feeling comfortable over here. It took some time to adjust to the game, but I did it. It was the same thing in college.

EuroReport: Tell me about how the level of play in the American Hockey League compares to the Finnish League.

Ruutu: Many people have been have been asking me about this. You know, it’s so hard to compare the styles of the two games. They’re so different. I always say that if a lot of European teams came over here to play here, they’d probably lose, but if top teams from here went over there, the European teams would win. There, you get a lot of skill and open ice, and here, it’s more grinding in the corners and you don’t pass the puck as much.

EuroReport: The Swedish Elitserien has gone to a very passive, defensive style of play. Is anything similar happening in the Finnish League?

Ruutu: No, the Finnish League is a lot more offensive. I think it’s probably the closest thing to North American hockey that you get in Europe.

EuroReport: You became the captain of IFK Helsinki in your third year with that team. How did you adjust to taking on a different role over here?

Ruutu: Over there, I played a big role, and even last year, I played a big role in the minors. But everyone understands that when you get to the NHL, you have to start from the bottom. Nobody gets to be on the first line right away. I just try to show the guys leadership on the ice.

EuroReport: What did you think of your eight games with the Canucks?

Ruutu: It was a good experience, but you can’t say much about it, because it was such a short time. I didn’t get much ice time. I know what I have to do this year. I feel comfortable and relaxed, and this year I just have to avoid feeling uptight and trying to do too much.

EuroReport: Vancouver GM Brian Burke likes to compare you to Esa Tikkanen.

Ruutu: I like his style of game. He does everything pretty good. But when I was younger, my favorite player was Wayne Gretzky, and he still is. Of course, I liked Tikkanen and all the other big Finnish guys.

EuroReport: Vancouver recently signed one of your old IFK Helsinki teammates, Johan Davidsson. What can he contribute to the Canucks?

Ruutu: I played on the same line with Johan for a whole year, along with Jan Caloun, who’s playing for Columbus this year. We had a great line. In Europe, Johan was a great offensive player with lots of speed and skill. Hopefully he’ll get a chance here too.

EuroReport: And what’s the main thing you need to do to crack the Canucks lineup this year?

Ruutu: Work hard. Play solid defense. Forecheck. Create turnovers. Get some points and play for the team. Every time I go out there, I’ll give my best, and whatever the coaches ask me for, I’ll do it.