According to a report, former Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford will be hired by the Vancouver Canucks.
TSN’s Darren Dreger says that Rutherford is expected to be the team’s next president.
TSN’s Pierre LeBrun confirmed the news saying Rutherford will also be interim GM.
Rutherford has won three Stanley Cups in his career as a general manager, one with Carolina and back-to-back Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017.
Rutherford shockingly resigned from the Penguins this past January and didn’t give a specific reason for abruptly leaving saying,
"It has been a great honor to serve as general manager of the Penguins, and to hang two more Stanley Cup banners at PPG Paints Arena,” Rutherford said at the time. “I have so many people to thank, beginning with the owners, Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux, and team president David Morehouse. There always has been so much support from everyone involved with the Penguins, both on the hockey and business staffs, and, of course, from a special group of players led by Sidney Crosby. The fans here have been tremendous to me and my family. I know it’s a little unusual to have this happen during a season, but just felt this was the right time to step away.”
Rutherford did mention that his decision to leave developed quickly over a “couple of days” when he decided to leave.
93.7 The Fan’s Colin Dunlap reported back in January that Rutherford was clashing with ownership over his ability to make certain trades.
Related
It’s no surprise that Rutherford would be back with another team, He said when he resigned that the move was not a retirement, and was more of a break.
This past May, the Hall of Famer joined PBI sports agency to look for “NHL management opportunities.”
Rutherford had been the Pens GM since 2014 before leaving the Penguins scrambling for a new general manager.
The Penguins signed former Flyers GM Ron Hextall and added Brian Burke as President of Hockey Operations.
Vancouver fired their coach Travis Green and general manager Jim Benning on Sunday as well as assistant general manager John Weisbrod.