The National Hockey League confirmed what Pittsburgh Penguins fans already knew. Jim Rutherford, who did a masterful job of transforming a shopworn black-and-gold team into Stanley Cup champions, was named General Manager of the Year in a vote of his peers at the league’s Annual Awards banquet in Las Vegas.
With typical modesty, the grandfatherly 67-year-old native of Beeton, Ontario was quick to deflect praise.
“I’m kind of the guy that steers the ship, but I’m just one part of it,” Rutherford said.
It marked the third time in his lengthy front-office career that JR earned top-executive honors.