How naive of me to presume Canucks president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford wouldn’t throw his mentee GM under the bus, because that’s essentially what he did.
Rutherford dismissed Patrik Allvin from the Canucks GM job on Thursday afternoon, while holding on to his position as prez for at least another season. He broke the news to his underling after making the decision just after noon yesterday.
It doesn’t matter financially; both men are still collecting paycheques for another year based on their contracts. But the 77-year-old elder statesman keeps ticking, despite earlier declarations that he wasn’t interested in a rebuild in Vancouver.
The combination of failure and ego proved to be too much.
It’s still quite possible Rutherford steps down after his deal is up in 2027, at age 78, only after he’s found a suitable replacement for Allvin and potentially for himself.
As we pointed out in our logical scenario two days ago — it was just that, not a news story or a suggestion — the boss man has said he doesn’t really have anything else he wants to do. Damn the torpedoes; it seems as though he’s gonna keep going as long as he can with Vancouver.
“He (Allvin) was in charge of most things in hockey, making the trades, deciding who’s getting called up and down, working with the coach, and all those things,” Rutherford said. “I take full responsibility for the season. I head up the hockey department, but I don’t make decisions for other people, and Patrik had the opportunity to make his own decisions.”
Rutherford downplayed some of the hockey moves made over the last couple of seasons, suggesting Allvin worked autonomously on most everything that wasn’t “bigger”.
Anyone else find it hard to believe that any player was permanently moved on or off the Canucks roster without Rutherford’s consultation?
In the meantime, the hockey boss remained optimistic.
“I believe this organization is in a very good place to move forward now,” Rutherford said. “Talk about the culture and the chemistry and the young players that are here and the young players in key positions, good young goalies coming, we have good young defence now, and the forwards have to get built up.”
If he convinces owner Francesco Aquilini to keep him around beyond next year, a distinct possibility, it leaves our logic scenario in tatters. Other than Aquilini’s respect and trust in Rutherford, maybe Ryan Johnson’s involvement remains a possibility.
For now the cliche’ that best fits the Canucks and Rutherford; “you got us into this mess, now get us out.”
Earlier Canucks:
— Canucks PR BS; Don’t Blame Ullrich
