JIm Rutherford releases shocking statements

The Vancouver Canucks flirted with challenging for a Wild Card postseason spot after they fired former head coach Travis Greene and replaced him with veteran bench boss Bruce Boudreau, who proceeded to lead them within striking distance of the annual dance. And naturally, the idea heading into this season was bigger and better things.

Unfortunately for the Canucks, that's been anything but the case. The franchise is in a state of absolute disfunction right now with trade rumors swirling left and right as well as the alleged botched handling of the injury to Tanner Pearson. Meanwhile, Boudreau is reportedly on the hot seat as Vancouver continues to slide in the standings.

Today, the Canucks held a press conference that can be described as nothing but strange, during which President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford was extremely candid in comparing his team to a patient that was thought of as originally needing minor surgery, but instead needing "major surgery".  

“I’m disappointed in the job that I’ve done to this point. When I first came here, I talked about getting control of the cap, getting rid of some contracts, and we haven’t been able to do that.” he said. “Until we do that, we’re not going to be able to make the changes that we need to make.”

“When I came here, I knew it was going to be a big challenge, and I thought we’d have to do minor surgery…We have to do major surgery.”

"I'm disappointed in the job I've done to this point... We have to do major surgery."

When asked if he'd consider an all-out tank job, Rutherford stated the obvious in that he and the team would love to have the 1st overall selection in this year's upcoming NHL Draft. 

“I thought we were tanking,” Rutherford said. “We’re pretty close to the bottom. I'll say the obvious. We all want the first overall pick. This year of all years."

However:

"We're not moving towards a rebuild, I prefer the term re-tool," he said. 

How about the future of Boudreau? 

“All I can say is that Bruce [Boudreau] is our coach right now,” Rutherford said. "But with that, I’m calling and talking, but don’t know that we’re making a change and don’t want to make a change.”