The Ottawa Senators have traded winger Jarkko Ruutu to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2011 NHL entry draft.
The 35-year-old was minus-2 with two goals and eight assists in 50 games this season for the Senators.
"Jarkko is an effective, two-way player that we feel will help us down the stretch," said Ducks executive vice-president and general manager Bob Murray in a statement. "He's the energetic, gritty type of addition we were looking for."
Ruutu has spent the past three seasons in Ottawa, and has played for Pittsburgh and Vancouver over his 11 years in the league.
Ruutu is earning $1.3 million this season in the last year of a three-year deal with the Senators. He is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The Ducks said via Twitter on Thursday afternoon that Ruutu will not be able to join the Ducks until he receives a work visa.
Ruutu becomes the third Ottawa player to be traded in the last week. Senators general manager Bryan Murray dealt Mike Fisher to Nashville on Feb. 10, and Chris Kelly to Boston on Tuesday.
The Senators already have injuries to forwards Daniel Alfredsson and Jesse Winchester, defencemen Sergei Gonchar and Chris Campoli, as well as goalie Pascal Leclaire.
To fill out the line-up for Friday's home game against the Boston Bruins, the Senators are expected to dress forwards Colin Greening, Erik Condra, and Bobby Butler, along with defenceman Andre Benoit. Another player is expected to be recalled from Binghamton (AHL) to take Ruutu's spot on the roster.
The Bruins-Senators match-up can be seen on TSN, Friday at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt.
