Jim Rutherford

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Jim Rutherford
Hockey Hall of Fame, 2019 (Builder)
Jim Rutherford 2017-06-11 1.jpg
Rutherford in 2017
Born (1949-02-17) February 17, 1949 (age 72)
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

James Earl 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]

Playing career[]

Rutherford 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 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[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Steve Andrascik
Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick
1969
Succeeded by
Serge Lajeunesse
Preceded by
Paul Holmgren
General manager of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes
19942014
Succeeded by
Ron Francis
Preceded by
Jason Botterill
(interim)
General manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
20142021
Succeeded by

(interim)
Retrieved from ""