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Jim Rutherford

Born:February 17, 1949Draft:1969 Red Wings #10 Overall
Hometown:Beeton, ONPosition:Goaltender
Known For:Hall of FameCatches:Left
National Team:CanadaCurrent Team:Vancouver Canucks (President of Hockey Ops)

James Earl Rutherford (born February 17, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and current president of hockey operations for the Vancouver Canucks. He is the former general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, having been named to that position on June 6, 2014, and resigning on January 27, 2021, citing “personal reasons”. Prior to holding the general manager position with the Penguins, Rutherford held the same position with the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes franchise for almost two decades, assuming the position in June 1994 and stepping down from that position in April 2014.

Jim Rutherford Vancouver Canucks
Jim Rutherford, Vancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Jim Rutherford Statistics

Deeper Dive

Front Office History

  • OHL Windsor Compuware Spitfires (General Manager) 1984-1988
  • OHL Detroit Compuware Ambassadors (President/General Manager) 1990-1992
  • OHL Detroit Jr. Red Wings (President/General Manager) 1992-1994
  • NHL Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes (President/General Manager/Franchise Owner) 1994-2014
  • NHL Pittsburgh Penguins (General Manager) 2014-2015
  • NHL Pittsburgh Penguins (General Manager/Ex. VP of Hockey Operations) 2015-2020
  • NHL Pittsburgh Penguins (General Manager) 2020-2021
  • NHL Vancouver Canucks (President) 2021-present

Achievements

  • As an Executive
    • CHL Executive of the Year (1987)
    • OHL Executive of the Year (1987)
    • OHL Champion (1988)
    • OHL Executive of the Year (1988)
    • 3x Stanley Cup Champion (Hurricanes – 2006, Penguins – 2016, 2017)
    • OMHA All-Time Great Team (Executive) (2009)
    • NHL General Manager of the Year (Penguins – 2009)
    • Hockey Hall of Fame | Builder (2019)

Sources