Who'll Stop the Rain - Jim Rutherford?

by Bob Wage on Apr 9, 2008 12:40 PM EDT

The Carolina Hurricanes failed to make the playoffs by a whisker this year and it's time to start analyzing, evaluating, dissecting, and scrutinizing. While Jim Rutherford was quoted as saying that he wanted to wait until emotions were settled before he had his year-end review with coach Peter Laviolette, I would prefer to start my review process while emotions are still in play.

Let's start the 2nd guessing right at the top with the previous two-time NHL General Manager of the year, Jim Rutherford himself. First of all, Rutherford is listed as one of the contenders for the open Toronto Maple Leafs job. While the Carolina GM has said that he is perfectly happy here and it would take a lot for him to leave, he hasn't exactly said that there is no way that he would leave either. While I would be surprised to see him move back home, it wouldn't necessarily shock me to see him go.

But will the Leafs even offer him the job? Not taking anything away from him for his fantastic performance during the year of the Cup when every button he pushed was perfect, you have to look at the results other than just that one year. The Hurricanes have not made the playoffs in 4 out the past 5 years of hockey. In 2002-03 they had the worst record in the entire league. That's something that you don't necessarily want to put on your resume.

He did an outstanding job in 2001-02 as well, so that is certainly another feather in his hat, but would the Leafs management team be happy with the disappointing results of the last 2 years?

Whether he stays or goes, let's evaluate the performance of the Canes General Manager for this year. At first glance, you might say he did a great job. He brought in Samsonov, Ruutu, Corvo, and Eaves. There is no arguing that those were good pickups. Getting Corvo and Eaves for two players that were probably gone at year end is a huge coup.

All in all, Tuomo Ruutu is probably an upgrade over Andrew Ladd, so give him credit for that trade as well.

Bringing in Sergei Samsonov was kind of a no-brainer though. Justin Williams had gone down for the season and the Canes were pretty much stuck. They needed another warm body desperately. The opportunity was ripe when Samsonov went through waivers twice and could be picked up for half price. Let's not give Rutherford too much credit because that was a zero risk move. It didn't cost the Canes anything but some extra salary.

While those acquisitions worked out fine, let's examine a few things that happened earlier. What position would you say was worst for the Canes all year long? Nothing against John Grahame personally, but I would say that the back-up goalie position was a washout. Since Rutherford is the one who signed Grahame to a 2 year contract in 2006, and then did nothing to rectify the situation during the offseason last year after Grahame stunk, I'd have to give the GM an F for that signing.

It's easy to pat myself on the back now, but I was thinking that it was a big mistake to sign him for 2 years back when they originally signed him. Also, the contract was for too much money, which made him virtually untradeable. The guy was ridden out of Tampa Bay on a rail with everyone celebrating as he left town, and yet the Canes just handed him a 2 year contract on a silver platter. It didn't make any sense to me. It was an obvious mistake after the first year. But Rutherford was just asking for trouble again by doing nothing regarding trying to fix that mistake before or during the past year.

The next area the Canes have been weak at is defense. Let me ask, who is offering all of these players no-trade clauses in their contracts? Was that Jason Karmanos?

I can see giving Bret Hedican that benefit at the time way back in 2002, but to give one to Nic Wallin? That strikes me as unbelievable. Over the summer JR reportedly tried to trade Wallin and surprise surprise, Nic refused the deal. The rumor was that Carolina could have gotten Joni Pitkanen from the Flyers in return. How do you think the Hurricanes would have looked with Pitkanen on the blueline instead of a slow-footed Wallin this past year? Give JR another F regarding that fiasco.

Let's take a look at the team in general. They are one of the oldest groups in the NHL, 2nd only to Detroit. They are also one of the smallest teams. After a fast start this past year, they started to get man-handled as a unit. Teams found out that if they pushed the Canes around, they could beat them. The final straw was when Matt Cullen was concussed in New York.

So, in general the Canes are old and small and get physically pushed around. Is it any surprise that they are among the league leaders regarding injuries and man-games lost every year? I think most fans agree, Carolina needs to get younger and they need to get bigger so that they can play a more physical game. That is on the GM.

I think that the best scenario for any team is to have a healthy balance of youth and experience as well as speed and size. Anytime there is too much of one or the other, it could lead to trouble.

My point in bringing all of this up is not necessarily to throw Rutherford under the bus. For the most part, I think he is a fine GM, but he's made his share of mistakes this year just like everyone else has. He needs to start correcting his mistakes this offseason.

Next up on Bubba's list is Peter Laviolette.

CCR

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Comments

I agree with pretty much everything you said except that I think Nic Wallin (when healthy) is a very good D-Man. Perhaps a little slow, but positionally very sound. I’ll take him over Bret “I just took another boneheaded penalty because I lost my temper” Hedican any day. (Just a tongue in cheek jab at Hedican, he’s a great guy).
I would also like to bring up the Stillman trade. I thought he needed to be gotten rid of. I know a lot of people like him and say he’s a stand up guy, but I think he’s too much of an opportunistic scorer with little defensive benefit. Every time I watched him, it seemed as though he was standing around waiting for the outlet pass or the breakout. I know some of that is part of being a forward, but you also have to win battles and support the puck. The other thing is that his tendancy to stand around and wait for the defense to get the puck rubbed off on Staal. I think Stillman’s departure had as much to do with Staal’s emergence as a leader as any other factor. Staal just played a more complete game as the season went on after Stillman was traded.
Also, I went to the Canes’ pre-season game against the Caps. Grahame started but was weak and was relieved by Mike Leighton who pretty much shut down the Caps. Perhaps a portend of things to come. I wonder where we might be if Leighton had stayed up with the big club.

by NoVa Caniac on Apr 9, 2008 1:21 PM EDT reply actions

Pitkanen would have been nice to have on the blue line but that trade wasnt straight up for Wallin, a top 6 forward would likely have gone to Philly as well.

by Mark on Apr 9, 2008 1:59 PM EDT reply actions

I like what Rutherford did tis year, with the exception of bringing back the injured too quickly, which may have been Lavi’s fault as well. It was a gamble that didn’t pay off. Not only do the Canes need to get bigger and younger on D, but they need an agitator – and not just someone like LaRose who has a great work ethic. They need someone to get under the opposition’s skin. Every great team has had one, from Esa Tikkanen to C. Lemieux and Pat Verbeek. I’m not just talking about a goon like Avery, I mean an annoying two way player who can shut down an opponents’ top scorer while on the ice, and force that same player off his game and into the penalty box, all while scoring 20 goals. It is a tall order, but “superpests” are worth every penny. I’m hoping Ruutu can do it, but I haven’t seen much of it from the ’Canes personnel. It seems the ’Canes get annoyed more often than not.

by marc on Apr 9, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply actions

All right, Claude Lemieux WAS a little too much of a goon rather than a pest.

by marc on Apr 9, 2008 3:19 PM EDT reply actions

I, for one, am a huge Jim Rutherford fan. Would you instead like for have a freak like Kevin Lowe or a piece of garbage like the guy (name escapes me right now) who ran Chicago into the ground and basically shunned every superstar in their long history? Or what about Buffalo’s Regier? Practically dismantled an annual Cup contender within a year?

Rutherford is budget savvy – he won’t run the franchise’s future into the ground. Sure, every so often he trades away superstars – Jack Johnson or a Pronger – but his moves this year were just short of genius.

Keep Rutherford!

BTW: I’m not sure I agree that Ruutu is an upgrade over Ladd.

by Fred on Apr 9, 2008 3:37 PM EDT reply actions

By the way – my last comment was lumped under marc

by Fred on Apr 9, 2008 3:38 PM EDT reply actions

I’m still so pissed off at missing the playoffs, that I can’t even begin to put any thoughts into breaking down what happened and who’s to blame.

I commend all of you on your efforts, I’ll have to review it all in a month or so, however long it takes me to get through the kicking stuff and throwing things phase.

Anyone else up for a poll on who’s mostly to blame for our late season swoon?

by biggie on Apr 10, 2008 12:31 AM EDT reply actions

Long time no see Biggie, good to have you back! We share your pain.

Marc-

I agree that we need a decent agitator.

Fred-

I am a Rutherford fan as well. He is a very nice guy, sometimes too nice.

Nova-

I agree about Leighton. He could be very good and needs to be given a decent chance.

by Bubba on Apr 10, 2008 1:08 AM EDT reply actions

Well, JR has his work cut out for him, but is hampered on 2 levels. 1) league seems to be reverting back to the clutch and grab, and away from the skill and speed. I’m willing to see how the playoffs are called before I give my final verdict on this, however. 2) we are a small market, self-imposed cap team.

We have a lot of guys making some big money. If he is going to go out an get a big blueliner, then a $$ guy will have to go. I say Whitney for that one. I’m not willing to part with anyone else.

NoVa: at minus 18, Wallin is anything but positionally sound. His mistakes cost us goals. Whereas Hedican’s plus 17 proves to me that his mistakes and turnover do not lead to goals. This is all 5:5 and SH play. Hedican is a beast at defending the 2:1 odd man rush and can push the puck up the ice. Hedican is also better at keeping the puck in the offensive zone at the point that Wallin. Wallin did have less penalty minutes @ 54, to Hedican’s 70…a difference of 16 minutes or 8 penalities. In a span of 66 games, not a big difference for me.

Marc: Calling Avery a goon feels good, but I don’t think he’s there….yet. He has the same qualities you favor: “I mean an annoying two way player who can shut down an opponents’ top scorer while on the ice, and force that same player off his game and into the penalty box, all while scoring 20 goals.” Avery nearly accomplished this, scoring 15 goals, and 18 assists. He’s an UFA that I say JR needs to think about talking to. Heck, I’m originally from Chicago and even rooted for Rodman for 2 years. If I can do that,I can support a guy like Avery.

Fred: I don’t think it was Rutherford who traded away Pronger, might be before his time. I may well be wrong on this, though. And the owner who ran my previously beloved Blackhawks into the ground was William Wirtz. His son Rocky is now making amends and doing a wonderful job. I agree with you on the Ruutu/Ladd trade. If the league really is going to revert to the clutch/grad type of play, then Ladd has the body and strength to power thru this. I guess we’ll all have to see how this pans out.

Now that the season has been over nearly a week, I am feeling surprisingly okay with it. Face it, this years roller coaster ride and yo-yo’ing left me drained. It’s ALMOST a relief to have it over and move on with life.

by Ivy on Apr 10, 2008 1:38 PM EDT reply actions

sean avery in a canes uniform? HA! There is no way in the known universe that he would even think about playing in NC. I mean that contract would have to be ridiculous even for consideration.

by hanrahanfan on Apr 10, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply actions