Ruutu started out playing for HIFK in the Finnish SM-liiga in the 1999-00 season, and moved to Jokerit for the next two seasons. In 2002 he returned to HIFK for one more season. Ruutu was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, as their first-round pick, #9 overall. He crossed the Atlantic in 2003, playing a full 82 games with the Blackhawks in the 2003-04 NHL season.

 

He didn't play during the NHL lockout, as he was recovering from injuries, but provided commentary on Finnish television during the ice hockey world championships, along with fellow NHL player Ville Nieminen. Ruutu returned to the NHL after the lockout, but his 2005-06 NHL season was cut short, first by a back injury that kept him out of the game for most of the fall, and in January an ankle injury requiring surgery ended his season.

 

He is the younger brother of Jarkko and Mikko Ruutu.

 

Ruutu represented Finland at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey and scored his first goal with Team Finland in the final against Canada.

 

After an unimpressive showing at the 2006 World Championships Ruutu said he might retire, though that was put to rest when Ruutu signed a two year 3.75 million dollar contract on September the 13th.