Rutherford to step down as Canes GM

[ThomasTomasz]

Jim Rutherford's 20th year as the general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes (and Hartford Whalers) will likely be his last.

According to Chip Patterson of the News & Observer, Rutherford is expected to step away from his duties as the franchise's general manager at the end of this season. If so, that would end his tenure as GM that has spanned two decades and two cities.

Already the Canes appear to have Rutherford's successor lined up, a familiar name to Hurricanes fans.

Sources close to the team say Rutherford may stay as team president, although that decision has not been made.

It's expected Ron Francis, the Hurricanes' vice president of hockey operations, will succeed Rutherford as general manager. That decision will be made by team owner Peter Karmanos Jr.

Thus would end a remarkable bit of consistency, something we don't see a lot of in NHL front offices. It helps that Rutherford constructed a Stanley Cup champion team a decade ago (with big thanks to Francis) and that he has had such a long-standing relationship with the Karmanos family.

Replacing Rutherford as GM could be a rough spot for Francis as soon as he steps on the job. The Hurricanes have a lot of high-priced, long-term contracts in place but unfortunately they have been stuck near the bottom of the league for a few seasons now.

He would be in the position of having to decide how to best position the franchise going forward while those deals could be burdensome. Rutherford has locked in his good players to big deals but it also has led to the fact that for the 2015-16 season the Hurricanes already have nearly $50 million committed (including Justin Faulk's new deal) in payroll and just 11 players signed. If Rutherford stays on in the organization, though, it could be an unusual spot if he tried to restructure the pay sheet.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/eye-on...erford-expected-to-step-down-as-hurricanes-gm

I'm shocked that he wasn't let go over the past year or so, but it seems there was a lot of good will between him and the owners. Francis has an uphill climb with some of the contracts on that roster, and a rebuild seems like it's in order.

 

[leaffan]

There were rumblings about this a few weeks ago and I was reading that changes are coming. I even heard Eric Stall and Cam Ward might be on the trading block. Who knows what they fetch in return though.

 

[Ravin]

I've heard everything from all the Staal's are on the move, or Marc Staal could be coming over from New York to play with them as well, to Ward is going to Edmonton, and Skinner could be moved as well.

It's a franchise that needs a lift. Rutherford is notorious for drafting only forwards, so the defence on the team has looked very weak for years.

Rutherford is part of all that all boys club that has been with the team for so long, the only way you get him out of that position is if he quits, like he is. They need a shake up, and if they want to tap Francis, might be a good time to do it and build from within since it isn't like they are going to get any worse.

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Either way you cut it, it will be an interesting off-season for Canes fans, and one that bears watching from the entire league. I think you blow the team up and try to rebuild, but if they can find a way to add some immediate help to the blue line, they could make things interesting next year.