Jim Rutherford

Lore & Background

Rutherford played in the NHL as a goaltender from 1969 to 1983. He played primarily with the Detroit Red Wings, but also spent time with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs. He retired as a player in 1983 at age 33 with a record of 151-227-59. Prior to serving with the Penguins as general manager, Rutherford was the president and general manager 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. Rutherford was one of the pioneers of the popular trend of ice hockey goaltenders 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 did not have time to get another fitted mask before game time, he reluctantly wore the decorated mask on the ice. 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 Penguins on January 27, 2021, for personal reasons. He later stated that his passion and focus for the job faded in the eleven months that had followed the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. On December 9, 2021, Rutherford was named president of hockey operations and interim general manager of the Vancouver Canucks. He currently serves as senior advisor and alternate governor for the Canucks.

In Their Own Story

The arena lights hummed low over the ice, reflecting off the gold confetti settling on the black surface. Jim Rutherford stood near the blue line, his suit jacket slightly rumpled from the celebration. He watched as players hoisted the Stanley Cup high above their heads, a roar rising from the stands that vibrated through the boards. In that quiet moment before the media swarm fully arrived, he looked at the empty net and remembered the long nights of negotiation and the tough calls made in private offices years prior. The trophy was heavy, but the weight on his shoulders had finally lifted.

Reader's Guide

Rutherford's career spans playing goaltender from 1969 to 1983, then executive roles: president of hockey operations with Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes from June 1994 to April 2014; general manager of Pittsburgh Penguins from June 6, 2014 to January 27, 2021; president of hockey operations and interim general manager of Vancouver Canucks from December 9, 2021, later moving to senior advisor and alternate governor. He won the Stanley Cup as general manager in 2006 (Hurricanes), 2016 and 2017 (Penguins). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019 and the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame in 2026.

Did You Know?

• Rutherford reluctantly wore a decorated mask in 1976 after a friend painted red wings on it without his permission, pioneering the trend of goaltender mask decoration.
• He won the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award on June 23, 2016.
• Rutherford was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.
• He was selected for induction into the Pittsburgh Penguins Hall of Fame on August 20, 2026, alongside Larry Murphy, Jack McGregor, and Marc-Andre Fleury.