Rutherford GM in Pittsburgh, Bylsma out of a job!

[DetDannyWilliams]

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins (http://penguins.nhl.com/) are changing direction, beginning Friday with the hiring of Jim Rutherford as general manager and the firing of coach Dan Bylsma (http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8455763).
Rutherford, 65, said he expects to hold the position for 2-3 years while mentoring possible future general managers, including Jason Botterill (http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8460510), who was promoted to associate general manager. Botterill, who was the team's assistant GM, had been serving as interim GM since Ray Shero (http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8458010) was fired May 16.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=721924&navid=DL|NHL|home

[swiper]

LOL @ Penguins. Pierre McGuire and Pat Brisson were their preferred choices? They should have kept Shero for those clowns. They should feel good they got Rutherford for a few years to bridge the gap to getting Botterill up to speed.




Luke DeCock (https://twitter.com/LukeDeCock/status/474923929048731648): Rutherford may not have been interested in the long-term rebuilding of the Hurricanes, but the short-term fine-tuning of the Penguins had appeal.



Hope Smoke (https://twitter.com/Hope_Smoke/status/474945381365981185): Nick Kypreos said that Pierre McGuire wanted a five year deal from the Penguins but the Penguin wanted a [2] year deal like the Sabres did with Tim Murray.



Josh Yohe (https://twitter.com/JoshYohe_Trib/status/474964573523419136): Rutherford said that he’ll likely be the GM for two or three years.



Greg Wyshynski (https://twitter.com/wyshynski/status/474946951851425792): Rutherford appears to the Penguins third choice behind Pat Brissonand Pierre McGuire.



Shelly Anderson (https://twitter.com/pgshelly/status/474962089807589377): Rutherford will add an analytics expert in the upcoming weeks.



Dave Molinari (https://twitter.com/MolinariPG/status/474963844154937344): Rutherford said that they don’t necessarily have to have a head coach in place by the draft, but wants one by the start of free agency.



George Richards (https://twitter.com/GeorgeRichards/status/474950328497213441): Have heard that Dan Bylsma believes the Panthers are waiting on him.



William DePaoil (https://twitter.com/TIOPS_DePaoli/status/474952984590577665): Bylsma wants the Panthers job.



Josh Rimer (https://twitter.com/JoshRimerHockey/status/474953817772261376): Bylsma now becomes the Panthers frontrunner.



Joe Yerdon (https://twitter.com/JoeYerdonPHT/status/474953827775700992): The Canucks and Panthers are still looking for a coach. Bylsma makes it a little more interesting.



Greg Brady (https://twitter.com/bradyfan590/status/474953439634792448): “Just low-rent stuff from the Pittsburgh Penguins…letting Dan Byslma twist for 21 days while he could’ve pursued other gigs. Brutal.”



Nicholas Goss (https://twitter.com/NickGossNESN/status/474953991793954816): “A little unprofessional of the Penguins to let Bylsma sit and wait for 21 days after Shero’s firing before being let go himself.”