James Earl Rutherford (born February 17, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and executive. He is the president of hockey operations of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Prior to his position with the Canucks, Rutherford held the same position with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes for almost two decades, assuming the position in June 1994 and stepping down from that position in April 2014.[2] He then joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as general manager, having been named to that position on June 6, 2014, and resigning on January 27, 2021,[3] citing "personal reasons".[4] Rutherford has won the Stanley Cup three times as a general manager, with the Hurricanes in 2006 and with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

Jim Rutherford
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2019 (Builder)
Born (1949-02-17) February 17, 1949 (age 75)
Beeton, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 168 lb (76 kg; 12 st 0 lb)
Position Goaltender
Caught Left[1]
Played for Detroit Red Wings
Pittsburgh Penguins
Toronto Maple Leafs
Los Angeles Kings
National team  Canada
NHL draft 10th overall, 1969
Detroit Red Wings
Playing career 1969–1983

Playing career

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Rutherford played in the NHL from 1969 to 1983; the majority of his career was spent with the Detroit Red Wings, but he also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings. As a goaltender Rutherford won 151, lost 227 and tied 59 games.[5] Rutherford retired as a player in 1983 at the age of 33.

Post-playing career

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Prior to serving with the Penguins as general manager, Rutherford was the president and general manager, as well as a part-owner of the Carolina Hurricanes – known as the Hartford Whalers until 1997 – having joined the franchise in 1994 and helping build the Hurricanes team that won the Stanley Cup in 2006. Later he helped build the Penguins team that won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and again in 2017.[6][7][8]

 
Rutherford in 1976, while a member of the Detroit Red Wings.

Rutherford was one of the pioneers of the popular trend of ice hockey goaltenders decorating his mask in 1976. Initially, a friend painted a pair of red wings at the temples of Rutherford's mask without his permission. Because he did not have time to get another fitted mask before game time, he reluctantly wore the decorated mask on the ice. On June 23, 2016, he won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. In 2019, Jim Rutherford was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Rutherford resigned from his post as general manager of the Penguins on January 27, 2021, for personal reasons.[9] On December 9, 2021, Rutherford was named president of hockey operations and interim general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.[10]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA SV% GP W L MIN GA SO GAA SV%
1966–67 Aurora Tigers SJHL 30 1800 63 2 2.10
1967–68 Hamilton Red Wings OHA-Jr. 9 510 19 0 2.24 1 0 0 20 0 0 0.00 1.000
1968–69 Hamilton Red Wings OHA-Jr. 45 2730 163 3 3.36 5 300 27 0 5.40
1968–69 Montréal Jr. Canadiens M-Cup 6 6 0 366 20 3.28
1969–70 Fort Worth Wings CHL 35 12 14 8 2,060 92 1 2.68 4 3 1 244 12 0 2.95
1970–71 Detroit Red Wings NHL 29 7 15 3 1,498 94 1 3.77 .877
1970–71 Fort Worth Wings CHL 3 180 11 0 3.66
1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 40 17 15 5 2,160 116 1 3.22 .894 4 0 4 240 14 0 3.50 .903
1971–72 Hershey Bears AHL 3 3 0 0 180 7 0 2.33
1972–73 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 49 20 22 5 2,660 129 3 2.91 .912
1973–74 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 26 7 12 4 1,428 82 0 3.45 .883
1973–74 Detroit Red Wings NHL 25 9 11 4 1,418 86 0 3.64 .888
1974–75 Detroit Red Wings NHL 59 20 29 10 3,475 217 2 3.75 .877
1975–76 Detroit Red Wings NHL 44 13 25 6 2,633 158 4 3.60 .885
1976–77 Detroit Red Wings NHL 48 7 34 6 2,736 180 0 3.95 .867
1977–78 Detroit Red Wings NHL 43 20 17 4 2,466 134 1 3.26 .880 3 2 1 180 12 0 4.01 .862
1978–79 Detroit Red Wings NHL 32 13 14 5 1,890 103 1 3.27 .884
1979–80 Detroit Red Wings NHL 23 6 13 3 1,321 92 1 4.18 .854
1980–81 Detroit Red Wings NHL 10 2 6 2 600 43 0 4.30 .850
1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 18 4 10 2 959 81 0 5.07 .853
1980–81 Los Angeles Kings NHL 3 3 0 0 180 10 0 3.33 .896 1 0 0 20 2 0 6.00 .750
1981–82 Los Angeles Kings NHL 7 3 3 0 380 43 0 6.79 .792
1981–82 New Haven Nighthawks AHL 29 12 11 4 1,614 89 0 3.31 .877
1982–83 Detroit Red Wings NHL 1 0 1 0 60 7 0 7.00 .821
1982–83 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 12 3 7 1 591 44 0 4.47 .853
NHL totals 457 151 227 59 25,852 1575 14 3.66 .879 8 2 5 440 28 0 3.82 .883

International

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Year Team Event GP W L T MIN GA SO GAA
1977 Canada WC 2 1 0 0 89 7 0 4.72
1979 Canada WC 6 1 5 0 320 24 0 4.50
Senior totals 8 2 5 0 409 31 0 4.55

References

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  1. ^ "Jim Rutherford NHL Statistics". Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "Ron Francis is promoted to Hurricanes general manager". USA Today. April 28, 2014.
  3. ^ Rutherford named GM of Penguins, Bylsma fired
  4. ^ "Reasons behind Rutherford's departure remain a mystery". Pensburgh. January 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "Jim Rutherford Stats".
  6. ^ Canes' Rutherford expected to give up GM duties at end of the season, News Observer
  7. ^ Francis replaces Rutherford as Hurricanes' GM
  8. ^ Bob McKenzie [@TSNBobMcKenzie] (June 6, 2014). "Jim Rutherford is going to be announced as the new GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. #TSN" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Rutherford resigns as Penguins general manager". TSN.ca. January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ "Jim Rutherford Named President, Hockey Operations". NHL.com. December 9, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick
1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by General manager of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes
19942014
Succeeded by
Preceded by General manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
20142021
Succeeded by
Patrik Allvin
(interim)
Preceded by
Stan Smyl
(interim)
General manager of the Vancouver Canucks
(interim)

2021–2022
Succeeded by