With the surprising resignation of Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford, NHL trade rumors are starting to come out on why he decided to leave the Penguins. Rutherford is stated as saying he is not retiring and would like to be a GM of another team.
Colin Dunlap of Pittsburgh sports radio has stated, “I am told by multiple sources this morning Jim Rutherford was working on a Kris Letang trade to one of the teams he can be traded to. Ownership did not want him doing this. It forced an untenable situation. So here we are.”
Dunlap also said, “I’m also told by multiple sources this morning Jim Rutherford no longer being employed had nothing to do with his contract. He simply wanted autonomy— or close to it — with the ability to trade players and work trades. Ownership said no. He said screw this arrangement.”
It appears Rutherford wanted to trade Letang, 33, and had another team willing to make the trade but ownership said no. Letang has a cap hit of $7.25 million with one more year left. It would have opened up cap space for the Penguins to make a big move at the NHL trade deadline or in the off-season.
