Ryan S. Clark, NHL reporterJan 19, 2024, 03:09 PM ET
CloseRyan S. Clark is an NHL reporter for ESPN.
The Vancouver Canucks have given Hall of Famer Jim Rutherford a three-year extension to remain in his role as the president of hockey operations.
Rutherford, who was inducted as a builder in 2019, joined the Canucks during the 2020-21 season. He spent seven seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins where the franchise won two Stanley Cups with Rutherford serving as executive vice president of hockey operations and general manager.
Under Rutherford, the Canucks have gone through a reformation. Entering Friday, the Canucks (30-11-4) have the best record in the NHL and are in contention to capture the Presidents’ Trophy for the third time in franchise history and the first since the 2011-12 season.
“Jim has fostered a culture of accountability and performance,” Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini said during the team’s press conference. “Today we sit here first overall in the league, and we have five players and our coach going to the All-Star Game. … There’s a lot of hockey to be played but it’s fun to be a Vancouver Canucks fan and be a Vancouver Canuck player again.”
When Rutherford took over the Canucks, the franchise was at something of a crossroads. The Canucks missed the playoffs for four straight seasons but made it to the second round of the 2019-20 playoffs in the Edmonton Bubble. It created the belief that the franchise and its young core could be turning the corner only to see Canucks fire then-GM Jim Benning and head coach Travis Green in December 2021.
The Canucks then brought in Rutherford, hired Bruce Boudreau to take over as their new coach and hired Patrick Allvin as their new GM all within a matter of weeks.
Although the Canucks won 32 of their 57 games under Boudreau in the 2021-22 season, the 2022-23 season proved to be a constant series of challenges. The Canucks opened the year with an 18-25-3 start which led to them falling out of playoff contention by…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39344469/canucks-extend-president-hockey-operations-jim-rutherford
Author : Ryan S. Clark
Publish date : 2024-01-19 20:09:37
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