The Vancouver Canucks have announced a three-year contract extension for Jim Rutherford, the team's president of hockey operations. During a media conference, Rutherford and Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini discussed the team's progress and the future. Rutherford is pleased with the team being ahead of expectations and addressed player Kuzmenko's loss of confidence, while Aquilini expressed eagerness to secure a deal with Elias Pettersson. The ownership is excited about Rutherford's extension and the team's potential, drawing parallels with the 2011 team that competed for the Presidents' Trophy and sharing aspirations of winning the Stanley Cup.
Canucks sign president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford to a three-year contract extension. 🤝 https://t.co/BYh7iL7vnj https://t.co/7VfcN4rdYA
Aquilini on the practice facility: We have a few sites identified. We're making a lot of good progress. It's something that's needed. It's a process, and it's going to take time, but we're going to get there. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Rutherford on Kuzmenko: I don't know what we do more than what the coaching staff has been doing...He's lost his confidence. He's a good player, and he can score. There's no doubt in my mind, whether it's in Vancouver or another NHL city, he will score. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Rutherford: In many areas, we're ahead of where I thought we would be. I'm surprised. I say that respectfully to the players and coaches that got us here. We're here. We've earned it. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
“We’re ahead of, in many areas, where we thought we’d be,” says Jim Rutherford. #Canucks
Aquilini: This could be the year, who knows? #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Aquilini: We've been waiting for this for a long time. As owners, you want to be the owner that brings the cup to the city. That's every owner's ultimate dream. That pursuit of the Stanley Cup, that's what it's all about. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Francesco Aquilini jumps in after Jim Rutherford’s response on getting Elias Pettersson extended - “He can’t walk at the end of the year,” Rutherford noted - to reiterate that from an ownership perspective, the club really wants to reach an agreement with Pettersson. #Canucks
Aquilini: From an ownership perspective, we really want Elias to stay. We hope that Jim can come to a conclusion, and hopefully we can get that done. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Asked about Elias Pettersson’s status - and captioned jokingly by @imacSportsnet as “because it’s 11:18 and you haven’t been asked about it yet today,” - Jim Rutherford jokes, “Well my son asked me about it at 7am.” #Canucks
Rutherford: We can wait. We really want him to stay. He's a special player. He's very important to the #Canucks and the city. @Sportsnet650
Rutherford: My son asked me (about the Pettersson contract) at 7 this morning. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Rutherford: We've had pretty constant communication about how long I'm going to stay here. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Aquilini on the similarities between the 2011 team and the current team: This is very similar. We're on pace to maybe win the Presidents' Trophy. Who knows? #Canucks @Sportsnet650
#Canucks and Jim Rutherford agree on 3-year extension: https://t.co/yEXLdQdMPu
Aquilini: We wanted to get this done. We started talking the minute he signed the first contract. I told Jim I would like him to stay. We're very excited. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Jim Rutherford: Bruce had a way that he wanted to play that worked for him over his career, and the organization had a different way we wanted the team to play, and that's why the change happened. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Jim Rutherford: Allvin has a strong supporting cast that he's put together that he trusts. He's a very hard working, knowledgeable hockey guy. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
“We had good players, but we didn’t have a team. Now we have a team,” says Jim Rutherford, reflecting on his journey with the #Canucks to this point.
#Canucks Rutherford on state of franchise: ‘we sit in a good place, but we have work to do’
“We’re not there yet, even though we’ve made progress,” says Jim Rutherford… “We sit in a good place, but we still have work to do.” #Canucks
Aquilini confirms that it’s a three-year extension for Jim Rutherford. #Canucks
Aquilini opens with a statement about his history of meeting Rutherford at his home in Raleigh, NC and an anecdote about a charcuterie board they shared in that initial meeting. “Jim’s relentless desire to improve this club has put this team back on track.” #Canucks
Aquilini confirms a three-year extension for Jim Rutherford. #Canucks @Sportsnet650
Francesco Aquilini: There's still a lot of hockey to be played, but it's fun to be a Vancouver #Canucks fan and fun to be a Canucks player. @Sportsnet650
Francesco Aquilini and Jim Rutherford are meeting the press today, as the club announces a contract extension for Jim Rutherford. “Since arriving in Vancouver, Jim’s strategic vision has revitalized the competitiveness of our team,” Aquilini says in the release. #Canucks
Canucks make Jim Rutherford extension official.
The #Canucks PR department confirms Jim Rutherford and Francesco Aquilini will be speaking at this morning's presser. @Sportsnet650
WATCH LIVE on https://t.co/BQGeAnElqf - #Canucks announce contract extension for Jim Rutherford: https://t.co/oj3PxErdCf https://t.co/vTDFaEReq5
The Vancouver #Canucks will hold a media conference on Friday to announce a contract extension for president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford (via @FarhanLaljiTSN): https://t.co/L92mjpXXxm
Jim Rutherford is getting a contract extension.
Jim Rutherford on contract extension. https://t.co/mjdFLr1qtR