RUUTU OUT AGAIN

"My back's fine! Oh dammit! My knee!"

Tuomo Ruutu, brother of the Penguins' Jarko Ruutu will miss a month or more due to a grade 2 sprain to his left knee, suffered in a 5-2 win over Columbus last night. It was apparently a dirty knee-on-knee hit from Jackets defenceman Rotti Klesla, and a tape has been sent to NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell.
Immediately after the hit Hawk Duncan Keith stepped in and roughed up Klesla to defend his teammate, which drew praise from coach Trent Yawney.
Poor Ruutu has so much promise to become a star, but just can't seem to avoid injury. Last season it was a back injury that kept him out most of the season. We've seen him dominate skillfully and physically at an international level, but we will have to wait at least another month to see him with the Hawks. The last thing the Hawks need is another Eric Daze-type. Could you imagine a Handzus-Havlat-Ruutu line? I like the sound of that.
On a separate note, it appears that new Hawk Bryan Smolinski is fitting in just fine, according to Coach Yawney, and he may return to his old form.. scoring-wise in an increased offensive role in Chicago.