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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tVancouver Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford speaks during the NHL hockey team’s end of season news conference, in Vancouver, on Friday, April 17, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Ethan Cairns<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to get away from the day-to-day operations,\u201d he said at an unrelated press conference. \u201cI\u2019m going to stay with the team as an adviser and alternate governor. But as far as the day-to-day operations, we\u2019re going to put together a really good staff here going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 77-year-old, three-time Stanley Cup winner said Tuesday that he\u2019s been thinking about his future a lot recently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is something I\u2019ve thought about anyways for a couple of years,\u201d Rutherford said. \u201cBut it\u2019s time for me to do that. I feel bad that I have to do it at such a young age, but decided to do it anyways.\u201d<\/p>\n
The news comes after the Canucks finished the season last in the standings with a 25-49-8 record.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vancouver fired general manager Patrik Allvin on April 17, the day after the team capped its dismal campaign with a 6-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rutherford said the search for a new GM has involved more than 15 candidates, and the list has now been narrowed down to five. A final decision is expected by next week, he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a long ways along. The process has been good. We\u2019ve interviewed a lot of people, a good cross section of people in the hockey world,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust digging deeper and deeper and deeper into people and what they\u2019ve done in the hockey world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
How Vancouver\u2019s front office is structured following the new hire remains to be seen, Rutherford added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll help with the transition and the new person, new people, new positions, things like that,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll still be part of the organization. When someone wants to bounce something off of me, I\u2019ll be happy to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rutherford and Allvin orchestrated an era that saw the Canucks go from playoff outsiders to Pacific Division winners and back again.<\/p>\n
Rutherford was initially hired as Vancouver\u2019s president of hockey operations and interim general manager on Dec. 9, 2021, four days after then-general manager Jim Benning was fired.<\/p>\n
A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders\u2019 category, he previously served as GM for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2014 to 2021, and led the team to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and \u201817.<\/p>\n
He was also Carolina\u2019s general manager for 20 years, and helped the Hurricanes win the Cup in 2006.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rutherford admitted in January 2023 that turning the Canucks around was a bigger job than he\u2019d expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I came here, I knew it was going to be a big challenge. And I thought \u2018You know, we\u2019re going to have to do minor surgery,’\u201d he said. \u201cHave I changed my position? Well, yeah. We have to do major surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n
As president of hockey operations, Rutherford oversaw the hiring of three separate head coaches \u2014 including current head coach Adam Foote \u2014 and several blockbuster trades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One of the biggest moves came on Dec. 12 when the Canucks dealt captain and star defenceman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild for three players and a first-round pick in the 2026 draft.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d known for some time that Quinn was not staying in Vancouver, and I\u2019ve known before this season started,\u201d Rutherford said at a season-ending press conference.<\/p>\n
He added that Vancouver tried to entice the blue chip blue liner to stay by signing some of his good friends \u2014 including wingers Brock Boeser and Conor Garland, and goalie Thatcher Demko \u2014 to long-term deals last summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Winnipeg Jets Game Days<\/p>\n
On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.<\/p>\n