Carolina Hurricanes re-sign General Manager Jim Rutherford to four-year deal -NHL News Update
Carolina Hurricanes know how to keep those who are loyal to them and showed that by re-signing their long time general manager, Jim Rutherford, to a four-year contract extension on Thursday, September 22, 2011, which will have him entering his 18th
straight season with the team.
Carolina Hurricanes CEO and Owner, Peter Karmanos, made the announcement early Thursday morning.
"Jim is one of the premiere general managers in all of sports", said Peter Karmanos. "In the 14 years since the Hurricanes arrived in North Carolina, his leadership has allowed our franchise to host two Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL
Draft, bringing tremendously positive attention to the team and the area. This contract will take him through his 30th year with our hockey organization, and I am proud to have been associated with Jim for that long".
At 62, Rutherford has seen everything there is to be associated with Carolina Hurricanes being the longest-tenured general manager in club history and second in NHL history. He helped move the team from Hartford, previously known as Whalers, to Carolina
and was a partner in creating now what is one of the most successful clubs in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Lou Lamoriello, general manager of New Jersey Devils, currently holds the record as the league’s longest active GM at the moment.
His record since arriving in North Carolina is a marvellous, 482-428-136-20 in the regular season and has guided Hurricanes to three Southeast Division titles along with Stanley Cup Finals appearance in 2002 and championship in 2006.
In 2002, Carolina nearly won the Stanley Cup against Edmonton Oilers, but faced defeat in a close game-seven matchup, which would have made his 2006 win a second in four years.
During the 2011 offseason, Jim Rutherford has transformed the team for the better and along with having inducted a number of young and talented players, his addition of management and training staff will eventually make Carolina a championship contending
team once again.
Having signed a four-year contract extension, Rutherford is confirmed with Carolina well through the 2015-2016 season.
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