Former Penguins executive Patrik Allvin earned his opportunity with the Canucks

Jim Rutherford was big on giving out second chances during his time as the Pittsburgh Penguins general manager.

Now, as president of hockey operations of the Vancouver Canucks, he’s giving out a lot of first chances to people who otherwise would not be considered for certain jobs based on their nationality or gender.

Patrik Allvin is one of those people.

Rutherford has given Allvin his first chance.

Again.

Allvin officially was named as the 12th general manager of the Canucks.

He is the first Swede to hold such a position in the NHL. This appointment comes roughly 15 months after Rutherford promoted Allvin to an assistant general manager with the Penguins. At the time, he was the only European in the NHL to hold that role.

“It’s a big day for Swedish hockey and the European part of the game here,” Allvin said while speaking with Vancouver media Wednesday. “It’s a big day for me. I’m truly honored and proud to be the first one.”

Allvin’s tenure with the Penguins comes to an end after a highly successful run over parts of 17 seasons. Initially hired as a European scout in 2006 by former general manager Ray Shero, he also served as director of European scouting then director of amateur scouting before Rutherford promoted him to assistant general manager.

After Rutherford abruptly resigned last January, Allvin served as interim general manager of the Penguins for roughly two weeks before Ron Hextall was hired to the position.

During that time, Allvin was a member of the Penguins’ three most recent Stanley Cup championships (2009, ’17 and ’16).

“Him and I worked together for seven years in Pittsburgh, and I really learned to respect him,” said Rutherford, who joined the Canucks last month. “Respect him not only as a person but as a great hockey guy. He’s worked in all aspects of hockey operations. He brings a lot of experience, he brings a winning culture to Vancouver by being part of winning three (Stanley Cup titles) in Pittsburgh.”

Allvin will have his hands full in a demanding hockey market as he takes over a Canucks franchise that never has won the Stanley Cup. The Canucks are in seventh place of the Pacific Division and have some key decisions to make in the upcoming weeks with an underperforming roster.

Those decisions appear to be geared more towards the franchise’s long-term future and its pool of prospects than any immediate concerns.

“You need good depth,” Allvin said. “One year in Pittsburgh, I think we ended up with five or six players that started the season (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) ended up with their names on the Stanley Cup. It’s a very competitive league, and you need very good depth.”

Getty Images

Former Penguins executive Patrik Allvin had a role in the Penguins selecting forward Sam Poulin in the first round of the 2019 NHL entry draft.

Under previous management, the Canucks dealt away a number of high draft picks to fill immediate needs. Such a practice was common in Pittsburgh under Rutherford and Shero.

It was Allvin’s job to find prospects through other means.

“Coming from Pittsburgh, we parted ways with a lot of picks but always found ways to get players,” Allvin said. “This organization, with fewer picks coming up, I think this is a great landing spot for a lot of European and college free agent players. They’re going to get opportunities.”

Allvin isn’t the only person from a nontraditional background getting a first opportunity in Vancouver.

Over the past week, the Canucks hired two women, Emilie Castonguay and Rachel Doerrie, to assistant general manager and analytic roles, respectively. Castonguay, formerly a player agent, is the second woman in NHL history to hold such a position.

“I know how detailed and competitive he is,” Allvin said of Rutherford. “He’s always a forward thinker, and he really empowers his staff. … The people he taught along the way here that have moved on to key positions around the league. Having Jim there, it’s a great fit for the Vancouver Canucks and myself there.”

It’s not immediately clear how the Penguins will replace Allvin. A candidate for the full-time general manager role that Hextall was hired for, Allvin was something of a steward for the Penguins as Hextall and president of hockey operations Brian Burke took over last season.

“He’s a really smart guy that has great insights into player assessment, player evaluation, understanding how to build a team,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “He has a wealth of experience at a lot of the different levels. I always enjoy the conversations and the interactions that I’ve had with Patrik. He’s a really smart guy. I have a lot of respect for Patrik.”

Allvin earned that respect by working his way up the organizational ladder with the Penguins. That’s also how he earned his new job.

“I’ve been very, very fortunate over the years in Pittsburgh to be included in a lot of day-to-day stuff. The former assistant (general managers with the Penguins) that moved on to other teams, they always included me. That starts from the top (with) Jim Rutherford and Ray Shero being the (general managers) of the Pittsburgh Penguins in making sure to collaborate and empower their staff. I feel that I’ve learned, and I’ve taken steps every day.

“I definitely feel I’m ready for this position now.”