'Stress-free' Jim Rutherford watches, enjoys Penguins' success, considers future

Jim Rutherford is mindful of his pronouns.

It’s not “we.”

It’s “they.”

The Pittsburgh Penguins would be “they.”

“I’m usually very careful with my words, as you’ve known over the years,” the team’s former general manager said by phone Saturday. “I went to ‘they’ relatively quickly as I left.”

Rutherford abruptly departed his role with the Penguins on Jan. 27. As was the case on that day, he politely declined to explain his reasons for leaving the franchise Saturday.

In the three-plus months since his resignation, he has enjoyed a much slower schedule than what his previous job demanded.

Fully vaccinated against covid-19, the 72-year-old is like a lot of Pittsburgh-area residents. He does things around the home, and he watches hockey.

“I do more things family-wise,” Rutherford said. “Things that when I was working over the years, that you don’t get a chance to do. Certainly, with my son, I get to do more things. And I work in the yard, work around the house, things like that. The days go by pretty good. I watch games at night. Stay up and watch the late games. And, of course, never miss a Penguins game.

“Haven’t missed one.”

Rutherford just watched that team complete its 2020-21 regular season by claiming the East Division as well as home ice in the first round (and second round, should it advance that far) of the postseason. What are his impressions of that squad?

“I’m not surprised it came together,” Rutherford said. “(Coach Mike Sullivan) does a great job year after year. And, of course, with (forward Sidney Crosby) leading the way. Sid and (defenseman Kris Letang), they’ve really had good seasons. … It’s a team that’s fun to watch. They’re fast. They’re faster than most teams. I’ve really enjoyed it. And of course, the addition of (forward) Jeff Carter was really good, adding a player like him at the deadline and what he was capable of doing and what we’ve all seen him do now.

“So the Penguins are in a good place.”

The Penguins largely are in that place because of Rutherford’s efforts. With the exception of Carter as well as defenseman Mark Friedman, everyone on the Penguins’ roster was in place by the time he resigned.

When that was pointed out to him, Rutherford was quick to deflect any ownership of the team’s success.

“I don’t look at it that way,” Rutherford said. “I think it’s a time that we give the people the credit that are there, the job that (Sullivan) and his coaching staff did and the players. And (new general manager Ron Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke), they came in and it was a seamless transition. They’re good, experienced hockey guys. I think it’s important to look at it from that point of view and let the Penguins get ready for the playoffs.”

Much of the Penguins’ success in recent weeks has been because of the addition of Carter. Acquired at the trade deadline in an April 12 deal with the Los Angeles Kings, Carter collected 11 points (nine goals, two assists) in 14 games with the Penguins.

Rutherford, who was never afraid to pursue a big trade, likes what he sees with the team’s center depth now that Carter has inhabited the middle of the third line upon the return of Evgeni Malkin from a presumed knee injury.

“The Penguins are as strong down the middle as any team that’s going to be going into the playoffs,” Rutherford said. “To get a guy like Jeff Carter was a really, really good move on (Hextall’s and Burke’s) part. He’s won before. He wants to win again. He’s a good team guy. And he’s a good player.

“That was a really good addition.”

Of course, a front-office type with three Stanley Cup rings on his resume would be a good addition for just about any team.

Rutherford, whose contract with the Penguins formally expires in June, has made it known he would consider any possible openings around the NHL.

“I have not had discussions,” Rutherford said. “I’ve had teams indirectly reach out to say, ‘Before you do something, keep us in mind.’ But nothing serious. And it’s a good thing because I’m not in a hurry.”

For now, he’s just going to watch the playoffs like the rest of us.

“I miss everything about being with the Penguins since I’ve left. I’m not going to deny that,” Rutherford said. “But at the same time, it’s been stress-free. In the position that I’ve been in for a lot of years – 27 to 30 years – it’s stressful. Now, I can watch the games. I still am a little bit nervous about the game because I want the Penguins to do well. But at the same time, when the game is over and I get up the next morning, I know I don’t have to deal with any issues related to my job. To not have the stress is good. It’s a good break.

“Now, I’ll see here in the next couple of months if I want to just take it easy and move on my life. Or if I want to get back in and add some stress to my life again.”

Notes: The Penguins recalled defensemen Juuso Riikola, Yannick Weber and goaltender Emil Larmi from their taxi squad. Defenseman Josh Maniscalco was assigned from the taxi squad to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League. … Goaltenders Alex D’Orio and Maxime Lagace had their recall statuses changed from emergency to regular.

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