01/20/2024 – CanucksBanter

By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

January 20, 2024

Vancouver Canucks announced Friday that President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford has signed a multi-year contract extension.

“On behalf of ownership, our company, and our fans, we are thrilled to have Jim continue in his role as President of Hockey Operations for the Vancouver Canucks,” said Francesco Aquilini, Chairman and Governor, NHL.

“Since arriving in Vancouver, Jim’s strategic vision has revitalized the competitiveness of our team, generating excitement among fans, players, and employees alike. We look forward to having the Canucks continue to progress under Jim’s leadership.”
Francesco Aquilini, Chairman and Governor NHL, Vancouver Canucks

As for Rutherford:

“I feel the energy and enthusiasm of our fan base every day, and I am committed to building on our recent success to solidify the foundation for years to come,” said Rutherford.

“My family and I love living here and working with the Aquilini family. Ownership, management, coaches, players, and staff all have a unified vision in understanding what it takes to win.”
Jim Rutherford, President of Hockey Operations

411 On Rutherford

Rutherford joined the team as President and Interim General Manager in December 2021 and has succeeded in establishing a hockey operations organization that is fully aligned.
A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builders’ category, Rutherford joined the Canucks from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
In Pittsburgh, he was the teams’ General Manager from 2014 to 2021, leading the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017.
He was voted the General Manager of the Year Award winner for the 2015-16 season and, in 2019, was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Prior to his seven seasons with the Penguins, Rutherford worked 20 seasons as GM and President of the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes (1994-2014).
Rutherford was named the NHL’s Executive of the Year by The Hockey News in 2002 and 2006 and by The Sporting News in 2006.
Under Rutherfords’ leadership, the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup in 2006; made two trips to the Stanley Cup final, won the Eastern Conference championship in 2002 and 2006, reached the Conference Finals in 2009 and captured three Division titles.

Together with his leadership team, he has defined a new culture and identity for the entire (Canucks) franchise.
Canucks Press Release

Source: nhl.com

🆚 Toronto Maple Leafs
⏰ 4:00 PM. PST
📍 Rogers Arena
📺 Sportsnet
📻 Sportsnet 650

MATCH-UP INFO

Tonight marks the second of two meetings between the Canucks and Maple Leafs this season: Nov. 11 (road, 5-2 L), Jan. 20 (home).
Vancouver is 72-65-22-3 all-time against Toronto, including a 45-24-11-2 record on home ice.
The Canucks are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games against the Maple Leafs (3-2-0 in their last 5).
J.T. Miller leads all active Canucks skaters in scoring against Toronto with 29 points (14-15-29) in 33 career games.
Thatcher Demko is 5-4-0 with a 3.25 GAA and a .908 save percentage in nine career games against the Maple Leafs in his career.
In six career games (1-3-0), Casey DeSmith has a 2.77 GAA and a .911 save percentage all-time against Toronto.

QUICK NUMBERS

Elias Pettersson has 14 points (9-5-14) in his last seven games.
Quinn Hughes has registered 14 points (2-12-15) in his last 15 games, totaling 53 points overall (11-42-53). He ranks t-1st in the league for points amongst defencemen.
J.T. Miller has 61 points overall this season (20-41-61) and has 18 points (5-13-18) in his last 15 games. Miller leads the league in primary assists with 29.
Quinn Hughes (+33) and Filip Hronek (+32) both lead the league in +/-.
Thatcher Demko recorded his fourth shutout of the season on January 13 and is currently 2nd in the league for wins.
The Vancouver Canucks currently rank 1st in the league and have the highest goal differential (+57) in the league.
The Canucks currently have the most wins (27) when leading after two periods, have opened the scoring 31 times this season (first in the league) and have the most wins when scoring first (24).

2023.24 TEAM RANKS

SIX CANUCKS HEADED TO THE 2024 ALL-STAR GAME

On Jan. 13/24, the NHL announced that Elias Petersson, Brock Boeser, Quinn Hughes, J.T. Miller, Thatcher Demko and Rick Tocchet would be representing the Vancouver Canucks at the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto.
Demko received the most fan votes out of all players eligible for voting.
The 2023.24 season will mark the first time Miller has been named an all-star.
The 2023.24 Vancouver Canucks are the first team in franchise history to send five players and a coach to the NHL All-Star game, the previous best being three players and a coach in the 2002.03 and 2010.11 seasons.
They are also the first team in the NHL since the Colorado Avalanche in 2000.01 to have five players named as all-stars.

SETTING RECORDS

By a 2-1 win over the Coyotes on Jan. 18/24, the 2023.24 Vancouver Canucks own the franchise record for fewest games needed to reach 30 wins in a season. Vancouver reached this mark in 45 games. The previous record was held by both the 2010.11 and 2011.12 Canucks, both teams recorded 30 wins in 49 games.
The Vancouver Canucks were the first team in the NHL to record 30 wins this season. This marked the second time in franchise history the Canucks have been the first team to 30 wins (outright or tied). The other instance happened in the 2003.04 season.
After defeating the Sabres on Jan. 13/24, the Canucks went on a five-game road winning streak from Jan. 6/24 – Jan. 13/24, marking the third such run over the past 10 years in Canucks franchise history. The 2022.23 and 2014.14 seasons marked the other two instances.
On Jan. 2/24 vs OTT, the Canucks scored five goals in the opening period for the 12th time in franchise history and the fourth time since then turn of the century.
Leading the NHL standings with 49 points on Dec. 25/23, the Canucks became the first Canadian team to lead the league at the time of the Holiday Break since the Ottawa Senators in 2005.
With a record of 23-9-3 through Dec. 23/23, the Canucks have recorded the most wins in franchise history through the team’s first 35 games of a season.

HEY SIRI, PLAY STARBOY BY THE WEEKND

On Jan. 15/24, Elias Pettersson was named NHL’s First Star of the Week after posting nine points (5-4-9) helping lead the Canucks to a 5-game road winning streak, the third instance in the past 10 years in franchise history.
During the week, he recorded two 4-point games and became the first player in NHL history to record GWG’s in four straight road games whilst also matching the second longest streak of GWG’s. He was also named to the NHL’s All-Star game for the fourth time and was selected to participate in the NHL’s skills competition.
Elias Pettersson was previously named Second Star of the Week, during the NHL season opening week and Second Star of the Month during October.

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