Penguins Update: Farewell JR and Thanks for the Memories

In 1957, way before the Steelers began winning Super Bowls, Art Rooney Sr. hired Raymond “Buddy” Parker to serve as head coach and de facto GM. The rangy Texan had led the Detroit Lions to two NFL titles and a third appearance in the championship game and was considered one of the top coaches in the game.

Parker had little use for rookies and inexperienced players and immediately began to deal draft picks for proven veterans in order to make the Steelers competitive right away. And the previously woebegone “Rooney U” did improve, going 7-4-1 in 1958, 9-5 in 1962 and 7-4-3 the following season, although they never finished higher than second place.

Heading into the 1965 season the team was aging and there were few young players ready to step in. That didn’t dissuade Parker, who attempted to deal yet another draft pick for a veteran. The trade was vetoed by Dan Rooney, who’d taken over operations of the club. Parker quit in a huff.

An admittedly long-winded intro, but one meant to draw a comparison to now former Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford. (Seems weird to write that.) Maybe not apples to apples…under JR’s stewardship we won back-to-back Cups and made the postseason each year. But two emotional, driven men who operated in much the same manner. And perhaps resigned under similar circumstances, although Rutherford’s appeared to be handled with much more class and dignity. (Parker was said to have spouted, “I can’t win with this bunch of stiffs,” as a parting shot.)

Still, comments Rutherford made to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic…“I don’t think it serves anybody well (to share what happened)”, and Ken Campbell of The Hockey News…“I’m not going to get into that (why I didn’t finish out my contract)” hint that something triggered his sudden resignation.

Speculation, of course, is rampant. The most prominent rumor? JR wanted trade a core player or perhaps a top prospect/draft pick and was told no by ownership. Then there’s the lack of activity concerning a contract extension. Others suggest a rift between JR and Mike Sullivan, a notion that was quickly debunked during a rather emotional interview with the Pens’ coach in which he appeared shaken and saddened by his friend’s resignation.

The truth of what caused JR to walk away from the team he served so passionately and capably for seven-plus seasons may eventually come out in the wash. Then again, we may never know.

Back when there wasn’t a whole lot to write about in November and December, I focused a lot on Rutherford. I rated his trades and free-agent signings. None too happy with some of his recent off-season moves, I was consistently critical. I thought he was chasing his tail…that he’d lost his fastball.

Still, few GMs…if any…did better work than Rutherford during the Cup seasons, starting with the blockbuster Phil Kessel swap in the summer of 2015.  I still remember how excited I got when the trade was announced.

In rapid succession, he brought in veterans Nick Bonino, Eric Fehr and Matt Cullen and added Trevor Daley, Carl Hagelin and Justin Schultz through incredibly astute in-season trades. The newcomers fit so seamlessly, it’s almost as if GMJR consulted a seer prior to making the deals.

Don’t forget his hiring of Sullivan, who hadn’t held a head coaching job in the NHL in 10 years. The Pens were absolutely stone-cold dead in the water when JR promoted “Sully” from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Preaching hard work and accountability, the hard-driving skipper transformed a moribund, dispirited crew into Stanley Cup champions.

I thought Rutherford did even better work in 2016-17. With Kris Letang out for the playoffs, JR resisted the urge to peddle franchise icon Marc-Andre Fleury…for all intents and purposes a lame duck with Matt Murray emerging and the expansion draft looming…for top-end defensive help, insisting the team needed two quality goalies.

JR proved to be prescient. No way we win that second Cup without “Flower.” Or the player he acquired to fill Letang’s skates, Ron Hainsey.

Back to the present. Maybe it was time for JR to go, a notion he shared with the Post-Gazette’s Mike DeFabio. The Pens will face many challenges as soon as the summer of 2022, when the contracts of Letang and Evgeni Malkin expire. A lengthy and perhaps painful rebuild is sure to follow.

Maybe a challenge for a younger man. Still, whoever replaces the plucky GM will be hard-pressed to match the passion, zeal and professionalism Rutherford brought to the job. Not to mention his honesty, color and flair for the big trade.

Best wishes, JR. And thanks for the memories.