Tuomo Ruutu Contract Extension: Why the Hurricanes Overpaid Him

Tuomo Ruutu recently received a four-year contract extension worth $19 million. Ruutu is a one-of-a-kind player, there is no doubt about that—he is one of the few guys that can play physical, but he can also put the puck in the net.

Ruutu is fourth on the team in points with 30 this year, and he just became the second-highest-paid forward behind Eric Staal.

According to his contract, Ruutu will make $4 million next year, and $5 million per season through the 2016 season.

I don't have an issue with the resigning, but I do believe that Ruutu was severely overpaid. He is going to be paid more than guys like Joe Pavelski, Dustin Brown and Daniel Alfredsson.

The Hurricanes still have enough cap space (around $10 million) to make a move at the deadline; however, Jeff Skinner has to be next on the list for a contract negotiation. He is signed through the 2012-13 season, but he is only making $1.4 million per year.

Hopefully, Carolina isn't regretting the decision to put so much money down on Ruutu, when they are dealing with resigning Skinner because he is going to be in for a monstrous contract.

Hurricane fans will be happy to have Ruutu wearing the red, black, silver and white for the next four seasons, but the amount of coin he is getting is a little bit overboard.

Carolina currently sits in dead last in the Eastern Conference but is only eight points out of eighth place. They are going to have to make some dramatic moves to make a run at making the playoffs.

Expect the Canes to make some serious moves as the trade deadline approaches on February 27th.

So Hurricane nation I ask you, do you believe that Ruutu was overpaid?