Jim Rutherford

James E. Rutherford (born February 17, 1949) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and former front office executive. 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.[2] 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.[3]

Jim Rutherford
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2019 (Builder)
Rutherford following the 2017 Stanley Cup Finals
Born	February 17, 1949 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

Rutherford also 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 Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings. As a goalie Rutherford won 151 games and lost 227 games.[4] Rutherford retired as a player in 1983 at the age of 33.

Post-playing career

Prior to serving with the Penguins as general manager, he 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.[5][6][7]

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

Jim Rutherford was one of the pioneers of the popular trend of hockey goalies 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 didn't have time to get another fitted mask before game time, he reluctantly wore the decorated mask on the ice.

Rutherford has won the Stanley Cup three times as a general manager; in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes, and in 2016 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. 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 Pittsburgh Penguins on January 27, 2021, due to personal reasons.[8]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				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	2060	92	1	2.68	—		4	3	1	244	12	0	2.95	—
1970–71	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		29	7	15	3	1498	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	2160	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	2660	129	3	2.91	.912		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Pittsburgh Penguins	NHL		26	7	12	4	1428	82	0	3.45	.883		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1973–74	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		25	9	11	4	1418	86	0	3.64	.888		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1974–75	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		59	20	29	10	3475	217	2	3.75	.877		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1975–76	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		44	13	25	6	2633	158	4	3.60	.885		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1976–77	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		48	7	34	6	2736	180	0	3.95	.867		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1977–78	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		43	20	17	4	2466	134	1	3.26	.880		3	2	1	180	12	0	4.01	.862
1978–79	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		32	13	14	5	1890	103	1	3.27	.884		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
1979–80	Detroit Red Wings	NHL		23	6	13	3	1321	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	1614	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

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

1. "Jim Rutherford NHL Statistics". Retrieved January 17, 2013.
2. Rutherford named GM of Penguins, Bylsma fired
3. "Ron Francis is promoted to Hurricanes general manager". USA Today. April 28, 2014.
4. "Jim Rutherford Stats".
5. Canes' Rutherford expected to give up GM duties at end of the season, News Observer
6. Francis replaces Rutherford as Hurricanes' GM
7. 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.
8. "Rutherford resigns as Penguins general manager". TSN.ca. January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or Legends of Hockey, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Jim Rutherford's Day with the Stanley Cup