Ruutu played his first full season with the Canucks in 2001-02 and earned himself a reputation as one of the league's most effective "pests" or "agitators".
He had his best NHL season to date statistically in the 2005-2006 season, scoring 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points in 82 games, while amassing 142 penalty minutes with the Canucks.