Tuomo Ruutu was named assistant coach on June 29, 2021.
Ruutu helped guide the Panthers to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2024, one of eight Finnish members of the Cats to win the Cup joining skaters Aleksander Barkov, Niko Mikkola, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen, European Development Coach Tomi Maki and European Scouts Tommi Huhtala and Tommi Santala.
He joined the Panthers coaching staff after having spent the previous two seasons with the New York Rangers, serving as an assistant director of player development in 2020-21. The native of Vantaa, Finland, also served as an assistant coach with Team Finland at the 2019, 2020 and 2021 IIHF U20 World Junior Championships, earning a gold medal (2019) and a bronze medal (2021) coaching Panthers forward and fellow HIFK (Liiga) alum Anton Lundell.
Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round (ninth overall) of the 2001 NHL Draft, Ruutu amassed 346 points (148-198-346) over 735 NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks (2003-04 to 2007-08), Carolina Hurricanes (2007-08 to 2013-14), and New Jersey Devils (2013-14 to 2015-16).
Prior to his NHL career, Ruutu recorded 72 points (30-42-72) over 129 games in Finland's Liiga between HIFK (1999-00 and 2002-03) and Jokerit (2000-01 to 2001-02).
As a player on the international stage, Ruutu earned 10 medals over 12 tournaments representing Finland: gold medals at the 2000 IIHF U18 World Championship and the 2011 IIHF World Championship, silver medals at the 2001 IIHF U20 World Junior Championship and 2007 IIHF World Championship, and bronze medals at the 2002 and 2003 IIHF U20 World Junior Championships, 2006 and 2008 IIHF World Championships, and 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympic Games. He was inducted into the Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame in 2021.
