More details emerge about Rutherford's timeline to retirement from Vancouver Canucks
It can’t be much longer now, can it?
Sure, there are executives like Lou Lamoriello, who ran an NHL team until he was 82 years old.
However, that doesn’t sound like it will be Jim Rutherford.
“I look at where I’m at in my life now, I can do whatever I want and be very comfortable,” Rutherford said during the Canucks ‘ end-of-season media availability.
“If I feel comfortable that we have a good, strong person in place and maybe even potentially add two people over time, I would feel comfortable making a decision to leave.”
Could a decision to leave be coming as soon as this summer?
Apparently, that could be the case.
“We are hearing a lot of things about Jim Rutherford’s future,” CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal said Thursday on Donnie and Dhali. “Some people think he’s gone this summer, and some think he is going to be a consultant next year.”
That doesn’t sound like someone who plans to hold the President of Hockey Operations title much longer.
Rutherford clearly wants to take a step back, even if he’s not keen on leaving the Canucks based on their 32nd-place finish in the NHL standings.
But, one hint he did drop during his end-of-season availability was that, while Patrik Allvin handled most of the GM responsibilities, Rutherford wants the new hire to handle all hockey-related decisions.
That in itself hints at someone who will take a step back, but perhaps his ride into the sunset will be more hurried than we first believed.
Among the 12 candidates Vancouver has reportedly spoken with about the Canucks front office openings, Shane Doan was one who impressed management.
“I am still hearing a lot about Shane Doan in Vancouver,” Dhaliwal said. “Not as GM, most likely as a director of hockey operations type of job.”
Sounds like someone who could potentially fill Rutherford’s shoes.
While Doan doesn’t have much experience in the role, neither did Trevor Linden when he was hired by the Canucks. Despite Linden’s choice to hire Jim Benning as general manager, his desire to rebuild back in 2018, before his departure, was a forward-thinking move that probably would have been beneficial for the franchise.
Could the same happen with Doan as someone who could soon take over Rutherford’s job?
Unlike Linden, at least Doan could have some experience to lean on if he were to eventually become president of the Canucks.
Two blueprints that Rutherford could follow if he wants to ease out of the president’s role are those of Dave Tallon and Davie Poile. Both were longtime NHL presidents and general managers who now hold the title Senior Advisor with NHL teams.
Tallon is a senior advisor for the Canucks, while Poile holds that title with the Nashville Predators.