Tim Benz: Jim Rutherford's ‘personal reasons’ for leaving Penguins resulting in public speculation

The sudden departure of general manager Jim Rutherford from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization raises an always delicate question for the sports media.

And for fans on social media, too, for that matter.

Hey, I’ve got a column. You’ve got a Twitter account. A lot of us have podcasts and YouTube channels.

We all have our platforms these days. No one needs to scream toward the clouds in hopes that a passing bird happens to hear your hot takes. We all can reach an audience of some level or another in 2021.

Whenever situations such as Rutherford’s resignation crop up and “personal reasons” are used as a blanket explanation for why someone leaves an organization, are we still allowed to wonder what those reasons are?

‘Cause … I’m gonna. And I bet most of you are, too.

Look, I get it. We all saw it on Twitter when the news about Rutherford broke. A race to see who could gush the most flowery prose imaginable for the job he did here as general manager.

All of it warranted. The two Stanley Cups speak to that on their own.

I’d love to be content with an explanation of, “He’s walking away for personal reasons, and that’s good enough for me. His personal reasons can stay personal.”

Can they, though? If you have that public of a job, can the reasons for your resignation remain entirely personal? I mean, in a literal sense, sure. No one can force an honest quote from Rutherford. He’s entitled to become a hermit if he wants.

But that’s part of the issue here. He may go down as one of the most transparent, quotable and honest general managers in professional sports history. So to abruptly leave his post only seven games into a season with nothing more than a cryptic explanation of “personal reasons” is going to leave the public understandably curious.

Especially with his contract expiring in June.

Especially when assistant general manager Jason Karmanos was fired in October.

Especially with just one day of notice, according to team CEO David Morehouse.

Especially with that tawdry Wilkes-Barre Scranton lawsuit hanging over the team’s head.

Especially on the same day the team went out and acquired defenseman Yannick Weber.

Especially at a time when an early big trade may be necessary to keep that injury-ravaged group of defensemen afloat.

Especially after an offseason when Rutherford and head coach Mike Sullivan insisted the team’s core was worth keeping and that the championship window is still open.

And with that team earning points in five of its first seven games, you wouldn’t think Rutherford already would be having second thoughts about their chances.

“There’s reasons why I did it now that I don’t want to get into,” Rutherford told TribLive’s Seth Rorabaugh.

Understood. But those reasons are kinda at the heart of the matter here.

At 71 years old — amid a global pandemic — if Rutherford had just said “personal reasons” and left it at that, most of us would’ve been comfortable in assuming his departure was about health. Or, at the very least, just old age for a person in a position that demands such long hours and stress.

But everyone in the organization is falling all over themselves to say Rutherford isn’t ill. Rutherford underscored that stance and dismissed any ties to the coronavirus pandemic as a theory behind his sudden decision.

“Actually, in some ways, as long as I keep avoiding getting (covid-19), the pandemic has been good for my health,” Rutherford told Rorabaugh. “I’ve exercised more. I’ve eaten better, and I’ve lost some weight. As long as something doesn’t happen here now. My health is pretty good.”

OK, then. It’s not health. It’s not age. It’s not covid-19. It’s not burnout.

Where do we go next? Concerns about the health or welfare of the family? Desire to spend more time with the wife and kids? Just a flat-out desire to leave the job? Those factors essentially added up to why Bill Cowher resigned from the Steelers after the 2006 season.

But he never came back to the Steelers. Even after leaving at only 49 years of age. Again, Rutherford is 71 and already telling The Hockey News he may come back to hockey after his contract with the Penguins expires in June.

Just got off the phone with Jim Rutherford. He said "It's time to take it easy." His contract is up in June and he may retire then, or look to get back in the game with another team. "In the next 4 or 5 months, I'll decide whether I want to keep doing something or just retire."

— Ken Campbell (@THNKenCampbell) January 27, 2021

At least Cowher knew he’d have to take off the entire 2007 season after he resigned. Rutherford just sounded like a guy who is going to chill out and take a sabbatical for a few months before perhaps diving back in feet first.

So when you start adding up the pieces, it’s beginning to feel like Rutherford’s “personal reasons” are that he “personally” just doesn’t want to work for the Penguins anymore. So it’s hard to take that simple explanation at face value. In other words, perhaps Rutherford and others within the Penguins organization were starting to disagree on some matters. But at least they agreed to end things before they really went south.

And it’s not a surprise that many are already speculating that there is more to this story.

Some news on Rutherford's departure next. All was not well b/w him &the Pens. Tune in. @1059thex

— Mark Madden (@MarkMaddenX) January 27, 2021

.@937theFan Penguins beat man @jhathhorn raised interesting Jim Rutherford scenario:

Did Rutherford want to trade a player, like Malkin and Letang? And people above him said no. At which point, Rutherford resigned.

Food for thought.

— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) January 27, 2021

Jim Rutherford says decision is not health-related. But won't elaborate on why he stepped down.
``I don’t think it serves anybody well. I’ve been treated first-class here and I really appreciate and respect what they’ve done for me. That’s the way I want to leave the Penguins.’’

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) January 27, 2021

He was, of course, “retired” in Carolina but came out of retirement for a chance to win the Cup in PIT. Well, he won two of them and what he thought might be a short three-season tenure with the Pens extended to seven. Now, that’s over. What comes next? Check back in the summer.

— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 27, 2021

As Rutherford himself acknowledged in the team’s press release, “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.”

A little unusual? Gee, ya think? Especially if we are ruling out all of those other potential circumstances.

At his age and with his level of accomplishment, Rutherford can go out however he wants. And whatever details emerge in the weeks to follow, they are unlikely to taint his legacy in Pittsburgh.

But that’s not going to stop us from wondering what they actually are. Nor should we feel guilty about doing so.

In Thursday’s hockey podcast, TribLive Penguins beat writer Seth Rorabaugh joins me to talk about Rutherford’s resignation, the promotion of assistant general manager Patrik Allvin, the acquisition of Weber and the Pens’ injury woes on defense.