Raleigh, NC – The Carolina Hurricanes have given president year contract extension.
Financial details were not released, but the new pact will take the NHL's second-longest tenured GM through the 2015-16 season.
"Jim is one of the premiere general managers in all of sports," said Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos in a statement. "In the 14 years since the Hurricanes arrived in North Carolina, his leadership has allowed our franchise to host two Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL All-Star Game and the NHL Draft, bringing tremendously positive attention to the team and the area. This contract will take him through his 30th year with our hockey organization, and I am proud to have been associated with Jim for that long."
Rutherford will enter his 18th season as the team's general manager. Only New Jersey's Lou Lamoriello has been at his position longer, taking over the Devils for the 1987-88 campaign.
Under Rutherford, the Hurricanes have a record of 482-428-136-20 since arriving in North Carolina from Hartford prior to the 1997-98 season. The club reached the Stanley Cup Finals in the spring of 2002, then won the Stanley Cup championship four years later.
The Hurricanes have won the Southeast Division three times under Rutherford's guidance and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals three times in the past nine seasons.
Rutherford spent 13 seasons as an NHL goaltender with Detroit, Toronto, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh from 1969-82.