Jim Rutherford resigns as Penguins GM, Patrik Allvin to serve as interim as club starts search

Jim Rutherford has resigned as general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins, citing personal reasons, the team announced Wednesday afternoon in a news release.

Assistant general manager Patrik Allvin has been promoted to interim general manager. The search for a new GM will begin immediately, the team said.

“It has been a great honor to serve as general manager of the Penguins, and to hang two more Stanley Cup banners at PPG Paints Arena,” Rutherford said in a statement. “I have so many people to thank, beginning with the owners, Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux, and team president David Morehouse. There always has been so much support from everyone involved with the Penguins, both on the hockey and business staffs, and, of course, from a special group of players led by Sidney Crosby. The fans here have been tremendous to me and my family. I know it’s a little unusual to have this happen during a season, but just felt this was the right time to step away.”

The Penguins won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships under Rutherford, 71, who was hired before the 2014-15 season. Rutherford, who was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019, replaced Ray Shero.

“Jim has been an amazing representative of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and he’ll always have a special place in our team’s history, his own legacy,” Morehouse said in the statement. “He’ll always be part of the Penguins. On behalf of our ownership, management, staff, coaches and players, we want to thank him for his many contributions, which go far beyond those two Stanley Cups. Jim is a great friend and teammate. We wish him and his family the best.”

The Penguins promoted Allvin, 46, to assistant general manager in November 2020 after 14 seasons with the club. He started as scout in 2006-07 and served as director of amateur scouting from 2017-20.

“I’m excited for this new opportunity with the Penguins, but I would not be in this position were it not for Jim’s faith in me over these past seven years,” Allvin said in a statement. “I want to thank him and wish him the best. Moving forward, I want everyone to know — from our ownership to our fans — that I’m committed to doing the best job possible for the Penguins, building on our strong start to the season.”