RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes have claimed former first-round draft pick Zach Boychuk off waivers and have activated forward Tuomo Ruutu from the injured non-roster list .

The team also placed defenseman Joe Corvo on injured reserve retroactive to March 16 as part of a series of moves announced Thursday before its game against New Jersey.

Carolina took Boychuk, a native of Airdrie who played junior hockey with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Ruutu will make his season debut after sitting out since having hip surgery in December. The physical forward had 18 goals and 16 assists last season.

The Hurricanes waived Boychuk in January for the purpose of sending him to their AHL affiliate in Charlotte, but he was claimed by Pittsburgh.

After the Penguins waived him in February, he was claimed by Nashville. The Predators waived him earlier this week.