Jim Rutherford‘s time as the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager was marked by shrewd moves. This article looks at the top five signings he made as Penguins GM. While Jim Rutherford’s tenure as the Pittsburgh Penguins GM was defined more by trades than signings, he had a knack for getting value out of his players as well. As the GM won two Stanley Cups with the team, these signings played a crucial role in their success. These signings not only bolstered the Penguins’ roster, but also ensured long-term stability and competitiveness. This article highlights Jim Rutherford’s five best signings during his time as Penguins GM, analyzing their impact and long-term benefits for the Penguins.
#5. Brandon Tanev Contract
Signing Brandon Tanev to a six-year, $21 million contract was originally seen as highly controversial. Having never scored more than 30 points in a season, signing Tanev was seen as very risky. Additionally, his signing came as the team began to face its post-cup struggles. As morale for the team was low, an unorthodox signing such as this one had a lot of pushback. However, the move added much needed grit and depth to the Penguins’ lineup. Tanev, 27 at the time, was known for his relentless energy and physical play and was able to use this to justify his value.
Impact
Brandon Tanev brought a unique blend of speed, tenacity, and defensive ability to the Penguins. He has the ability to play in various situations and to excel on the penalty kill. A tenacious checker, Tanev wasn’t afraid of physicality and getting into the most contested parts of the ice. He quickly became a fan favourite in Pittsburgh due to his playing style. While only scoring 25 points in his first season with the team, his checking and two-way game enamored fans.
Signing Analysis
While the $3.5 million AAV price tag was seen as a significant misstep for a bottom-six forward, Tanev’s impact on the ice quickly justified his investment. His contributions went beyond the score sheet, as he had a unique ability to provide energy to the team when needed. His contributions to the team’s defensive efforts, and his role in providing energy and physicality were invaluable, and well worth his price tag. Tanev was eventually left unprotected in the expansion draft and went to the Seattle Kraken in the summer of 2021.
#4. Justin Schultz Contract
Coming off a Stanley Cup win, defenceman Justin Schultz was due a new contract. While Schultz previously had high expectations on the Edmonton Oilers, he struggled there at times. Coming into Pittsburgh, Schultz was given sheltered minutes and performed well with the team down the stretch of the 2015-2016 season. He was also a key part of the defensive system during the 2016 Cup run. As such, re-signing Justin Schultz to a one-year, $1.4 million deal in 2016 was a pivotal move that ended up paying off significantly. Schultz, then 26, had proved that he was just in need of a fresh start to fully realize his potential.
Impact
Following his re-signing, Schultz quickly developed further into being a core piece of the Penguins’ blueline. With defensive backbone Kris Letang sustaining a season-ending neck injury mid-way through the season, Schultz had to step up. With the added pressure of being the primary defensive option of the defending Stanley Cup champions on his shoulders, Schultz scored a career high 51 points in 78 games with the team. Additionally, he played a significant role in the Penguins 2017 cup win, providing key minutes and offensive contributions from the blueline. Acting as the primary offensive option from the blueline, he scored 13 points in 21 games during the 2017 run.
Signing Analysis
The low-risk, high-reward nature of Schultz’s contract made it one of GM Jim Rutherford’s smartest moves as Penguins GM. Through a brilliant bridge deal, Rutherford was able to minimize roster turnover following a Cup victory while retaining a piece that would play an integral role in the next victory. For just $1.4 million, the Penguins secured a defenceman who would go on to be a critical part of their second straight championship run.
#3. Marcus Pettersson Contract
Following a trade from the Anaheim Ducks, Marcus Pettersson began flourishing with the Penguins. Putting together a couple of solid seasons prior to this contract, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford’s signing of Marcus Pettersson to a five-year, $20.125 million contract was another incredible move. At 23 years old, Pettersson was emerging as a dependable defenceman with significant upside. Signing him long-term for a relatively low AAV was key in ensuring the Penguins had a stable top-four defence option on their left side.
Impact
Since his signing, Marcus Pettersson has provided the Penguins with solid defensive play and stability on the blueline. Pettersson has developed his two-way game as well, contributing occasional offence while shutting down key oppositional talent. He’s scored 123 points in 395 games while being given tough defensive assignments. His ability to move the puck and his defensive awareness have made him a valuable part of the team while playing alongside players like Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.
Signing Analysis
The $4.025 million AAV Marcus Pettersson signed on for has led to excellent value. Pettersson has flourished as a reliable top-four defenceman, capable of pitching on both ends of the ice. “The Dragon” as he is called, has provided long-term stability to the team’s defence. Locking down such a crucial piece long-term during a flat-cap time period makes this an incredible move by Rutherford.
#2. Brian Dumoulin Contract
Long-time Penguins defenceman Brian Dumoulin was an instrumental part of the team’s back-to-back Stanley Cups. The Penguins had offensive defenceman like Justin Schultz and Kris Letang in spades. These players were capable of moving the puck from the blueline while providing defence. Dumoulin however, provided a different element. He was a defensive rock that allowed players like Letang to take the risks that makes their game so productive offensively. As such, Penguins GM Jim Rutherford’s efforts to sign Dumoulin was a key priority. Following contract talks, Rutherford was able to sign him to a long-term six-year, $24.6 million contract.
Impact
Dumoulin was a crucial part of the Penguins defensive structure. Following his extension, Dumoulin continued to excel defensively, providing strong shut-down play. Dumoulin’s tenure was marked by his strong defensive play, shot-blocking, and ability to log significant minutes against top opposition. Although Dumoulin’s performance began to dip as he aged, he continued to be the Penguins’ defensive stalwart through this contract. Dumoulin’s main contributions come from both his rock-solid defence and his ability to allow defenceman like Kris Letang to flourish. For many years, the Dumoulin-Letang pairing was a force for the Penguins.
Signing Analysis
At a $4.1 million AAV, Brian Dumoulin’s contract was a relative bargain for a top-pairing shut-down defenceman. This deal allowed the Penguins to maintain a solid defensive core while managing their salary cap. His low AAV also let the Penguins invest in defenceman like Marcus Pettersson. Dumoulin’s consistent and reliable play was a cornerstone of the Penguins’ defence during the team’s recent success. Signing him to a middle-pairing level AAV was a masterstroke of then Penguins GM Jim Rutherford.
Jake Guentzel is the Best Signing by Penguins GM Jim Rutherford
Following his debut in 2017, Jake Guentzel quickly emerged as a star talent on the wing. Scoring 40 goals and 76 points as a 23-year-old, Guentzel was also a large contributor to the Penguins’ 2017 Cup win. These accomplishments meant that he could have commanded a lot of money on the open market. However, re-signing Jake Guentzel was also a top priority for the team. In one of Jim Rutherford’s most brilliant moves, the Penguins GM ensured Guentzel was re-signed to a 6-year contract for $6 million per season.
Impact
After signing the contract, Guentzel developed into as a star winger for the Penguins. He tallied 466 points in 503 games, including 219 goals prior to his trade to the Carolina Hurricanes. Guentzel’s consistent scoring ability and playmaking prowess made him a cornerstone of the Penguins’ offence, providing crucial support to stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Signing Analysis
The $6 million AAV for a player of Guentzel’s calibre was a steal. This especially considering his impact prior to signing. Guentzel had already been a key contributor to one Cup run, and put up 21 points in 12 games in the playoff run leading into this deal. As he could have certainly commanded more money on the open market, this contract provided the Penguins with a top-tier forward at a reasonably low cap hit.
Conclusion
Jim Rutherford’s tenure as the Penguins GM was marked by a series of brilliant signings that played crucial roles in the team’s sustained success. The contracts of Jake Guentzel, Brian Dumoulin, Marcus Pettersson, Justin Schultz, and Brandon Tanev showcase Rutherford’s ability to secure key talent. These signings not only bolstered the team, but provided great value under a salary cap league. Additionally, some of these signings were directly influential in the Penguins back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2016 and 2017.
Main photo: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
