Jim Rutherford

 ( 1949 Births ) 

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. 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, Rutherford named GM of Penguins, Bylsma fired citing "personal reasons". 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.

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Playing career Rutherford played in the NHL as a goaltender from 1969 to 1983. Rutherford played primarily with the Detroit Red Wings, but he also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings.

Rutherford retired as a player in 1983 at the age of 33 with the record of 151-227-59.

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Post-playing career 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. Canes' Rutherford expected to give up GM duties at end of the season, News Observer Francis replaces Rutherford as Hurricanes' GM

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. On December 9, 2021, Rutherford was named president of hockey operations and interim general manager of the Vancouver Canucks.

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Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

1966–67	Aurora Tigers	SJHL	—	—
1967–68	Hamilton Red Wings	OHA-Jr.	—	1.000
1968–69	Hamilton Red Wings	OHA-Jr.	—	—
1968–69	Montréal Jr. Canadiens	Memorial Cup	—	—
1969–70	Fort Worth Wings	CHL	—	—
1970–71	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.877	—
1970–71	Fort Worth Wings	CHL	—	—
1971–72	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	.894	.903
1971–72	Hershey Bears	AHL	—	—
1972–73	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	.912	—
1973–74	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL	.883	—
1973–74	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.888	—
1974–75	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.877	—
1975–76	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.885	—
1976–77	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.867	—
1977–78	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.880	.862
1978–79	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.884	—
1979–80	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.854	—
1980–81	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.850	—
1980–81	Toronto Maple Leafs	NHL	.853	—
1980–81	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	.896	.750
1981–82	Los Angeles Kings	NHL	.792	—
1981–82	New Haven Nighthawks	AHL	.877	—
1982–83	Detroit Red Wings	NHL	.821	—
1982–83	Adirondack Red Wings	AHL	.853	—

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International

1977	Canada	WC	4.72
1979	Canada	WC	4.50

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External links

• Jim Rutherford's Day with the Stanley Cup

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