The Pittsburgh Penguins are too close for comfort to missing the playoffs. If they do, will General Manager Jim Rutherford be sent packing?
For the first time in the Jim Rutherford era, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in danger of missing the playoffs. Don’t worry, if the playoffs started today, they would make it. However, it would be much closer than Penguins fans want or expect.
Right now Pittsburgh sits in the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference, tied with the second place Montreal Canadiens (Pittsburgh has a game in hand) and two points ahead of a Columbus Blue Jackets team who desperately needs the playoffs.
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Normally by this time of year, a playoff spot is all but clinched for Sidney Crosby and the gang, but if they fall short this year, it will be nothing short of heartbreaking. When teams underperform, fans are quick to turn on the usual suspects: the coaches and management. Can the drastic outcome of Pittsburgh missing the postseason lead to the drastic step of firing Rutherford?
When Rutherford was hired in 2014 to replace Ray Shero, he inherited a roster most NHL teams could only dream of having, even though it was marred in continuous early exists from the playoffs. Surely if your team included the likes of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and then goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury you’d be expecting more than just the 2009 cup championship.
After the 2016 season saw the acquisition of Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin, who formed a lethal playoff trip with the now legendary HBK Line, and a mid-season coaching change, the Penguins were launched into back to back Stanley Cup championships. Rutherford was awarded NHL General Manager of the Year for his efforts.
Two years later, the Penguins might be on the outside looking on the playoffs. If they do, should it be time for Rutherford to be shown the door? More importantly, are the reasons at hand his fault or out of his control?
Dan Rosen went more into depth in a recent NHL.com article about Pittsburgh’s current defensive defects and how their offense has been able to keep them afloat in the standings:
"It’ll be harder on the Penguins because of the injuries to defensemen Kris Letang (upper body) and Olli Maatta (shoulder). Not many teams would be able to stay in the playoff race after losing three of their top four defensemen. The Penguins are one of the few that can because of their firepower up front. They are fifth in the NHL at 3.45 goals per game and tied for 17th in goals-against (3.06)."
Rutherford’s main priority at the deadline was to duct tape together a blue line that can last until Kris Letang and Olli Maatta returns from injury, hopefully in time for the playoffs. Adding Erik Gudbranson from the Vancouver Canucks helped stem a little of the bleeding, but you can only expect him to do so much.
While Rutherford is trying to make the best of a bad situation on the blue line, he’s not entirely free from criticism there. Acquiring the aging Jack Johnson last season doesn’t seem to be helping the current situation. Former Penguin Trevor Daley would have been perfect in this scenario has Rutherford not let him walk and sign with the Detroit Red Wings.
Besides, did Rutherford even explore the opportunity of a reunion with Ben Lovejoy who the New Jersey Devils had made obviously available before the Dallas Stars grabbed him? He countered that point with a critique on the Penguins inconsistencies in-goal.
"“It doesn’t matter how good your team is, goaltending is the X-factor in every conversation we have,” Rutherford said. “To me, we have one of the top goalies in the League in Matt Murray.”"
Rutherford can’t be blamed for the Penguin’s goaltending setbacks. During the 2016 and 2017 cup runs, it looked like Matt Murray was more than ready to take over the starters role. Letting Fleury be claimed by the Vegas Golden Knights seemed like an amicable parting for both.
The only conceivable goaltending related move Rutherford could have made at the deadline was trading for back up help. Even if he wanted to, there were no backup goaltenders on the market who would be better than Casey DeSmith.
If the Penguins miss the playoffs, Rutherford shouldn’t be fired. A General Manager should only be fired if their absence or their replacement makes the team better. Yes, if the Penguins miss the playoffs their fans and ownership will be mad, but firing Rutherford would be nothing but an impulsive knee jerk reaction. Where would the team go from there?
If Rutherford finds himself in the playoffs, which in all likelihood his team will be, he should breathe a sigh of relief and find a way to make sure the same mistakes that befell his 2018-2019 team don’t repeat themselves. If his blue line stays injury free, his work there is largely done, but adding younger defenseman if available would help make sure your season doesn’t depend upon someone like Jack Johnson.
An offseason priority for Rutherford should be helping goaltender Matt Murray stay consistent in his strong play he shows during his flashes of brilliance. This might be a job more in line with the trainers and coaching staff, so if they’re ineffective, Rutherford should respond accordingly.
Rutherford has had too much success as Pittsburgh’s general manager to be written off after one bad campaign. If he falls complacent and falls victim to several seasons of not living up to expectations however, he can expect the same fate as Ray Shero.