Jim Rutherford has a simple answer on how he stays motivated to work in hockey well into his 70s.

鈥淲hat else am I going to do? This is my 42nd year in the National Hockey League,鈥� the Canucks鈥� president of hockey operations said to laughs Friday as he spoke to media about his new three-year contract extension.

鈥淚鈥檝e dealt with challenges over and over and that鈥檚 what really drives me.鈥�

Rutherford was named president of hockey operations and interim general manager on Dec. 9, 2021, four days after general manager Jim Benning was fired. Patrik Allvin was hired as GM on Jan. 26, 2022.

The Canucks have quickly evolved from playoff outsider to league leader since Rutherford and Allvin have come aboard.

Canucks chairman Francesco Aquilini announced Rutherford鈥檚 extension at a Friday morning press conference.

鈥淲e wanted to get this done,鈥� Aquilini said. 鈥淛im鈥檚 record speaks for itself. Three Stanley Cups, the Hall of Fame, definitely his experience and knowledge of the game is second to none in my opinion.鈥�

The front office has presided over a major turnaround for the Canucks (30-11-4) who entered Friday first overall in the NHL standings, one point ahead of the Boston Bruins.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had a good first half (of the season) but it鈥檒l be very challenging in the second half,鈥� Rutherford said 鈥淏ut I believe our team is going to be up for that challenge.鈥�

Rutherford told media just over a year ago that the team required 鈥渕ajor surgery.鈥�

鈥淭his was never going to be a quick fix 鈥� I know the frustration of the fans and media. And everyone wants it done sooner than later, just like I do. But in a cap world, it鈥檚 not that easy to do,鈥� he said at the time.

Now, the veteran hockey executive admits he鈥檚 been surprised by the turnaround in the Canucks鈥� fortune after replacing former head coach Bruce Boudreau with Rick Tocchet.

鈥淲hen I first came here, one of the things I said was I think that we had some players that were better than people think,鈥� he said on Friday. 鈥淲e had a lot of very good players but we didn鈥檛 have a team. Now we have a team.鈥�

Vancouver鈥檚 surprising improvement in form has coincided with Quinn Hughes鈥� surge in offensive output, with the blueliner sitting tied for first for points by a defenceman.

The Canucks had made the playoffs just once in eight seasons heading into 2023-24.

鈥淭his is what we say in meetings: this group of players and coaches deserve the best opportunity they can to compete going forward,鈥� Rutherford said.

Rutherford, a 74-year-old native of Beeton, Ont., was general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins from 2014 to 2021 and led the team to back-to-back championships in 2016 and 鈥�17.

He was also Carolina鈥檚 GM for 20 years, and saw the Hurricanes win the Cup in 2006.

A former NHL goaltender, Rutherford was named the league鈥檚 general manager of the year in 2016 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category in 2019.

Rutherford and Aquilini also discussed the contract fate of Swedish forward Elias Pettersson.

The star centre has 59 points (24 goals, 35 assists) in 45 games for the Canucks this season.

鈥淲e can wait,鈥� said Rutherford about the pressure of signing Pettersson to a contract extension. 鈥淲e really want him to stay, he鈥檚 a very special player.鈥�

Aquilini agreed, saying that from an ownership perspective they want Pettersson to stay in Vancouver.

The Canucks play the second of a five-game homestand on Saturday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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