Jarkko Ruutu finally is heading back to familiar territory.

To places where everybody knows his name, and they're not afraid to use it.

Usually right after an expletive, or some other off-color modifier.

So when the Penguins open a swing through Western Canada with a visit at 9:38 p.m. today to Edmonton, Ruutu -- who was wildly unpopular around the Northwest Division during the four full seasons and parts of two others he played in Vancouver -- can assume the Rexall Place crowd will notice he has returned.

---

Scouting report

• Matchup: Penguins at Edmonton Oilers, 9:38 p.m. today, Rexall Place.
• TV, radio: FSN Pittsburgh; WXDX-FM (105.9).
• Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Penguins. Dwayne Roloson for Oilers.
• Penguins: Are 2-5 in past seven road games. ... LW Gary Roberts, who does not have goal in past 20 games, needs two points for 900 in NHL. ... Have allowed at least one power-play goal in eight of past 11 games.
• Oilers: Have won three games in row for first time since Dec. 4-8, 2006. ... C Shawn Horcoff, LW Raffi Torres have four-game scoring streaks. ... Power play is NHL's least-productive, scoring on just 12 percent of its chances.
• Hidden stat: Oilers' 4-3 victory Monday in Los Angeles was first game they've won this season when trailing at either intermission.

---

And he should brace for more of the same when the Penguins are in Calgary tomorrow.

"I don't really remember too well," Ruutu said, smiling, about how he was treated in those cities. "But there are a lot of places where they don't like me. I guess that's a good sign."

Ruutu can infuriate opposing fans -- and players -- because he's capable of playing an abrasive, on-the-edge game. That's what persuaded general manager Ray Shero to give him a two-year contract worth $1.15 million per season when Ruutu was a free agent in 2006.

"He has grit," Shero said. "He brings that style. I like the mentality he brought."

Ruutu, however, has not had a major impact in most of the 98 regular-season games he has played with the Penguins. Whether that's a reflection of his work or of how he has been used is a matter of perspective.

It also is hard to say whether Ruutu has a long-term future with the Penguins, because it's far from certain either party will be interested in continuing the relationship.

Coach Michel Therrien has used Ruutu in a more restricted role than he had in Vancouver -- Ruutu doesn't kill penalties, as he did for the Canucks, and rarely plays on anything other than the fourth line -- and has made him a healthy scratch nine times in the first 26 games this season, including the Penguins' 3-1 victory Monday against Phoenix.

Ruutu averages just seven minutes, 43 seconds of ice time when he's in the lineup and has only one point, an assist, in 17 appearances, after having compiled seven goals and nine assists in 81 appearances last season. Get past his shootout-winning goal Nov. 22 in Ottawa, and there hasn't been much memorable about his season so far.

Although Shero never publicly second-guesses personnel decisions by Therrien, Shero's assessment of Ruutu suggested he believes Ruutu is capable of handling a greater workload than he has received.

"I think he has more to give," Shero said.

So does Ruutu, who floated the notion that he has been unfairly typecast as an agitator, even though he volunteered that "I like" performing that job. "I think I'm kind of trapped in the role in a lot of people's minds," he said.

Ruutu, who will be an unrestricted free agent again next summer, said that where he'll be playing in 2008-09 is "something I can't think of right now," because "I'm trying to stay focused" on more immediate concerns.

For now, the only return Ruutu is thinking about is the one he's making to Western Canada, where he will visit Vancouver, a city he adored, and two other towns where he was abhorred.

"I'm really excited to go back there," he said. "It will be fun to see how people react."

Oh, Ruutu probably already knows. Just as the fans in all three places know exactly who he is.