The Vancouver Canucks announced that President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford has signed a three-year extension with the team. His current contract was set to expire after this year but this new deal will carry him through the 2026-27 season.
Francesco Aquilini, Chairman and Governor NHL, Vancouver Canucks, announces today that President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford has signed a multi-year contract extension. pic.twitter.com/ERXWaORB3l
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 19, 2024
Jim Rutherford Signs Three Year Extension with Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have been one of the hottest teams this season. After a few years of struggling to make much noise in the NHL, they have been on fire this season and looked poised for a post season appearance for the first time in a few seasons. It’s taken some time, but Rutherford has his prints on the team this season. It’s not much of a surprise that Vancouver wanted to keep him on board.
Rutherford comes from many years of executive level hockey management. He won a Stanely Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 as their GM and President. After many years there, he went over to the Pittsburgh Penguins where he eventually became the GM. With the Penguins he won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Vancouver then hired him in the end of 2021 as GM and President of Hockey Operations. In early 2022, Rutherford hired Patrik Allvin to take over as GM but he remained President with his contract expiring after the 2023-24 season.
What This Means
It’s been some tough sailing for Rutherford in Vancouver the last few years but things seem to be looking up. Rutherford has no problem making moves to attempt to improve the team. In his time with the Canucks, he has made some big moves including trading captain Bo Horvat and acquiring Filip Hronek. With the success the team is having this year it makes sense that they wanted to keep him around.
Rutherford will have a few more years to keep crafting this team with some big items to work out including a potential new deal for Elias Pettersson. As someone with tons of NHL experience who will be 75 in February, Rutherford also can continue to serve as a mentor for Allvin and other Canucks management.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
