Jim Rutherford has a simple answer on how he stays motivated to work in hockey well into his 70s.

B次元官网网址淲hat else am I going to do? This is my 42nd year in the National Hockey League,B次元官网网址� the CanucksB次元官网网址� president of hockey operations said to laughs Friday as he spoke to media about his new three-year contract extension.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e dealt with challenges over and over and thatB次元官网网址檚 what really drives me.B次元官网网址�

Rutherford was named president of hockey operations and interim general manager on Dec. 9, 2021, four days after general manager Jim Benning was fired. Patrik Allvin was hired as GM on Jan. 26, 2022.

The Canucks have quickly evolved from playoff outsider to league leader since Rutherford and Allvin have come aboard.

Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini announced RutherfordB次元官网网址檚 extension at a Friday morning press conference.

B次元官网网址淲e wanted to get this done,B次元官网网址� Aquilini said. B次元官网网址淛imB次元官网网址檚 record speaks for itself. Three Stanley Cups, the Hall of Fame, definitely his experience and knowledge of the game is second to none in my opinion.B次元官网网址�

The front office has presided over a major turnaround for the Canucks (30-11-4) who entered Friday first overall in the NHL standings, one point ahead of the Boston Bruins.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had a good first half (of the season) but itB次元官网网址檒l be very challenging in the second half,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said B次元官网网址淏ut I believe our team is going to be up for that challenge.B次元官网网址�

Rutherford told media just over a year ago that the team required B次元官网网址渕ajor surgery.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭his was never going to be a quick fix B次元官网网址� I know the frustration of the fans and media. And everyone wants it done sooner than later, just like I do. But in a cap world, itB次元官网网址檚 not that easy to do,B次元官网网址� he said at the time.

Now, the veteran hockey executive admits heB次元官网网址檚 been surprised by the turnaround in the CanucksB次元官网网址� fortune after replacing former head coach Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet.

B次元官网网址淲hen I first came here, one of the things I said was I think that we had some players that were better than people think,B次元官网网址� he said on Friday. B次元官网网址淲e had a lot of very good players but we didnB次元官网网址檛 have a team. Now we have a team.B次元官网网址�

VancouverB次元官网网址檚 surprising improvement in form has coincided with Quinn HughesB次元官网网址� surge in offensive output, with the blueliner sitting tied for first for points by a defenceman.

The Canucks had made the playoffs just once in eight seasons heading into 2023-24.

B次元官网网址淭his is what we say in meetings: this group of players and coaches deserve the best opportunity they can to compete going forward,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said.

Rutherford, a 74-year-old native of Beeton, Ont., was general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2014 to 2021 and led the team to back-to-back championships in 2016 and B次元官网网址�17.

He was also CarolinaB次元官网网址檚 GM for 20 years, and saw the Hurricanes win the Cup in 2006.

A former NHL goaltender, Rutherford was named the leagueB次元官网网址檚 general manager of the year in 2016 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category in 2019.

Rutherford and Aquilini also discussed the contract fate of Swedish forward Elias Pettersson.

The star centre has 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists) in 45 games for the Canucks this season.

B次元官网网址淲e can wait,B次元官网网址� said Rutherford about the pressure of signing Pettersson to a contract extension. B次元官网网址淲e really want him to stay, heB次元官网网址檚 a very special player.B次元官网网址�

Aquilini agreed, saying that from an ownership perspective they want Pettersson to stay in Vancouver.

The Canucks play the second of a five-game homestand on Saturday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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