Jarkko Ruutu, European Development Coach

Jarkko Ruutu joined the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2015 as the club's first European development coach. In his role, Ruutu primarily works with young players throughout the organization, assisting in the development of prospects playing in professional leagues and various major junior leagues across Europe.

Ruutu tallied 58-84-142 and 1,078 penalty minutes in 652 career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks, Pittsburgh Penguins, Ottawa Senators and Anaheim Ducks over a 10-year career. A native of Vantaa, Finland, he registered career highs in goals, assists (tied), points, games played (tied) and penalty minutes with 12-14-26 and 144 penalty minutes in 82 games with Ottawa in 2009-10.

Vancouver's third pick, 68th overall, in the 1998 NHL Draft, Ruutu also posted 77-91-168 and 1,072 penalty minutes in 318 career games in Finland's Liiga with HIFK and Jokerit before finishing his playing career with EHC Biel-Bienne in the Swiss league in 2014-15. He represented Finland at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Olympics as well as the 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 IIHF World Championships and 2004 World Cup.

He and his wife, Sofia, are the parents of a daughter, Greta, and son, Gabriel. The family resides in Helsinki, Finland.