- Jim Rutherford will step away from day-to-day Canucks operations after the 2026 NHL Draft
- The 77-year-old will stay on as an adviser and alternate governor once a new GM is hired
- Read below for video of his full media availability and the latest on Vancouver’s GM search
Jim Rutherford is stepping out of the daily grind in Vancouver.
The 77-year-old Canucks president of hockey operations told reporters Tuesday that he will step away from day-to-day duties after the 2026 NHL Draft. The news came just hours after Vancouver fell to the No. 3 pick at the draft lottery, despite holding the best odds in the league.
Sportsnet 650’s Brendan Batchelor was first with the news:
Rutherford will stick around as an adviser and alternate governor once a new general manager is in place, per NHL.com. The plan is to help with the GM hire first, then transition out of his current role.
The longtime executive said the move has been on his mind for a while, even if walking away at 77 stings a little.
“I’m going to get away from the day-to-day operations,” Rutherford said. “This is something I’ve thought about anyways for a couple of years, but it’s time for me to do that. I feel bad that I have to do it at such a young age, but I decided to do it anyways.”
The GM search is already deep into the finalist stage. Rutherford said Vancouver has whittled down a list of 17 or 18 candidates to a final five, with a decision targeted for next week. The team fired Patrik Allvin on April 17 after the Canucks bottomed out in the standings.
Hired by Vancouver in December 2021, Rutherford served as president and interim GM before bringing Allvin over from Pittsburgh. The Canucks reached the second round of the 2024 playoffs, then missed out the next two seasons. The Quinn Hughes trade to Minnesota back in December was the move that defined this campaign.
Rutherford’s resume speaks for itself. He’s a three-time Stanley Cup winner, one with Carolina in 2006 and two with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017. The Hockey Hall of Fame inducted him as a builder in 2019.
He spoke at length about the decision and the GM search. Here’s the full video of his media availability:
The next chapter for the Canucks belongs to whoever Rutherford hires.
