Newly hired Rutherford says Canucks are “open for business”

In case you missed the news earlier today, the Vancouver Canucks hired longtime NHL executive Jim Rutherford as their new President of hockey operation.

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The 72-year-old was hired by the Penguins in 2014 and was the mastermind behind the team's back to back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. He was also general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes when they won their only Stanley Cup in 2006. It's worth noting that he's a Hockey Hall of Famer, as well. Now he'll be tasked with finding the next GM of the Canucks and according to his first comments as the team's new President it looks like a rebuilding may be in order.

Canucks insider Patrick Johnson of The Province managed to get some quotes from Rutherford earlier today who admitted that the Canucks are "open for business."

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We’re open for business. But there’s steps that need to be taken in the initial stage. I like to include everybody in the org and keep them involved. At the end of the day I have to make the ultimate decision, but that decision has to come with a lot of info

- Jim Rutherford

If that's the case, Canucks fans may finally the rebuild that they've been asking for for nearly a decade under former GM Jim Benning. And if there's one thing we know about Rutherford, it's that he's not afraid to swing a deal on the trade market. Over the course of his 5+ years with the Penguins he averaged about one trade per month and had absolutely no problems moving people out if they weren't fitting in with the team. Not all of Rutherford's moves in Pittsburgh were stellar, of course, but he has more hits than misses and if you're gonna hit a homerun... well... you gotta swing the bat.

Assuming Rutherford has as much say on transactions as the GM he ultimately hires, look for the Canucks' roster to undergo massive, sweeping changes between now and the upcoming offseason. In particular it'll be interesting to see how he handles pending free agents like Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller and captain Bo Horvat.