Christian Ruuttu

Christian Ruuttu
Born	(1964-02-20) 20 February 1964 Lappeenranta, Finland
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)
Position	Centre
Shot	Left
Played for	Ässät HIFK Buffalo Sabres Chicago Blackhawks Vancouver Canucks Frölunda HC Grasshopper Espoo Blues
National team	Finland
NHL draft	134th overall, 1983 Buffalo Sabres
Playing career	1982–1999

Christian Ruuttu (born 20 February 1964) is a Finnish former professional ice hockey player, who is a scout.

Ruuttu is the father of Alexander Ruuttu, who was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes. His father Kalevi Ruuttu is a former Bandy World Championship referee.

Playing career

Christian Ruuttu grew up in Pori, where he attended the Swedish-speaking Björneborgs svenska samskola comprehensive school while playing for the Ässät Finnish Elite League club. He was originally drafted by the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League in the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, 7th round, 134th overall. He played six seasons in Buffalo from 1986–87 through 1991–92, attaining career highs in goals (26 in 1987–88), assists (46 in 1988–89), and points (71 in 1987–88). In Ruuttu's last season in Buffalo, his totals dropped to 4 goals and 21 assists.

Ruuttu began the 1992–93 season playing for the Chicago Blackhawks after being traded for goaltender Stephane Beauregard. He played there for the next two and one-half seasons before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks midway through the 1994–95 season.

After his career as a player, Ruuttu served as General Manager of the Espoo Blues of the Finnish Pro League and was a board member of the Finnish Elite League. He joined the Phoenix Coyotes organization as the Director of European Scouting. He is currently the Director of European Scouting for the Los Angeles Kings.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1980–81	Ässät	FIN U20		4	1	1	2	2		—	—	—	—	—
1981–82	Belmont Hill School	HS-Prep		—	—	—	—	—		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Ässät	FIN U20		5	2	6	8	12		—	—	—	—	—
1982–83	Ässät	SM-l		36	15	18	33	34		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Ässät	FIN U20		2	0	2	2	12		—	—	—	—	—
1983–84	Ässät	SM-l		37	18	42	60	72		9	2	5	7	12
1984–85	Ässät	FIN U20		1	3	0	3	0		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	Ässät	SM-l		32	14	32	46	34		8	1	6	7	8
1985–86	HIFK	SM-l		36	16	38	54	47		10	3	6	9	8
1986–87	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		76	22	43	65	62		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		73	26	45	71	85		6	2	5	7	4
1988–89	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		67	14	46	60	98		2	0	0	0	2
1989–90	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		75	19	41	60	66		6	0	0	0	4
1990–91	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		77	16	34	50	96		6	1	3	4	29
1991–92	Buffalo Sabres	NHL		70	4	21	25	76		3	0	0	0	6
1992–93	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		84	17	37	54	134		4	0	0	0	2
1993–94	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		54	9	20	29	68		6	0	0	0	2
1994–95	HIFK	SM-l		20	4	8	12	24		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Chicago Blackhawks	NHL		20	2	5	7	6		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Vancouver Canucks	NHL		25	5	6	11	23		9	1	1	2	0
1995–96	Västra Frölunda HC	SEL		32	13	25	38	98		12	4	7	11	34
1996–97	Grasshopper Club Zürich	NDB		42	31	40	71	72		11	5	9	14	6
1997–98	HIFK	SM-l		44	11	28	39	24		9	3	3	6	8
1998–99	Blues	SM-l		45	14	22	36	40		4	0	1	1	0
SM-l totals				250	92	188	280	275		40	9	21	30	36
NHL totals				621	134	298	432	714		42	4	9	13	49

International

Year	Team	Event		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1983	Finland	WJC		7	2	2	4	14
1984	Finland	WJC		7	0	4	4	6
1985	Finland	WC		6	1	1	2	16
1986	Finland	WC		10	2	5	7	12
1987	Finland	CC		5	2	1	3	10
1987	Finland	WC		10	0	0	0	18
1990	Finland	WC		9	5	3	8	4
1991	Finland	CC		6	1	5	6	4
1991	Finland	WC		10	7	3	10	10
1992	Finland	WC		5	0	1	1	6
1994	Finland	WC		4	2	2	4	4
1996	Finland	WCH		4	1	0	1	2
1996	Finland	WC		6	0	2	2	2
Junior totals				14	2	6	8	20
Senior totals				75	21	23	44	88

Awards

• Finnish First All-Star Team (1986)
• Played in NHL All-Star Game (1988)

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database