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Canucks notebook: Has Patrik Allvin moved to top of GM hiring list?

Allvin gained Rutherford's trust by running the amateur scouting side in Pittsburgh for years and currently handles salary cap and collective bargaining agreement issues.

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Jim Rutherford may have dropped a hiring hint.

The Vancouver Canucks’ president of hockey operations and interim general manager didn’t name names in an in-depth interview with Postmedia on Friday, but his preference for someone to succeed the fired Jim Benning could point to a familiar face.

Rutherford is working on narrowing his GM candidate list to five and current Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM Patrik Allvin merits serious consideration. And in a review of the hiring criteria — and Rutherford’s connection with the well-respected hockey operations operator — he could be the front-runner.

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“They (candidates) are people who have worked very hard to put themselves in a position to be ready to be an NHL general manager,” Rutherford told Postmedia. “They would be entry level. What I would consider an entry-level general manager.

“What I’m hoping is a guy that can come in, grow with the job and be here for a long time.”

Rutherford had said from the outset during his arrival press conference in Vancouver that he enjoys the mentoring process and ownership is in favour of taking that approach.

That sounds a lot like Allvin.

“He would be a logical hire with those parameters,” a longtime Penguins observer said Monday.

Two years ago, Rutherford promoted Allvin to the position of Penguins AGM after the smart Swedish hockey mind started as a European scout under Ray Shero in 2006 and then methodically worked his way up in the organization.

He gained the trust of Rutherford by running the amateur scouting side for years and currently handles the club’s salary cap and collective bargaining agreement issues.

Allvin wasn’t looking for a lateral move and the Penguins probably wouldn’t let him go in that regard. 

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Rutherford’s hockey Rolodex reads like a who’s who and judging by those he has worked with — Bill Guerin, Tom Fitzgerald, Jason Botterill and Jason Karmanos — there are others he may also consider. But Allvin might be at the front of that line.


Newly appointed Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau in action during a practice session at Rogers Arena in Vancouver BC., December z, 2021.
Newly appointed Vancouver Canucks head coach Bruce Boudreau in action during a practice session at Rogers Arena in Vancouver BC., December z, 2021. Photo by NICK PROCAYLO /PNG

Boudreau’s a true rink rat

As expected, Bruce Boudreau welcomes the challenge to conduct four practices this week and keep his club engaged before a Saturday meeting with the Ottawa Senators at Rogers Arena. 

And aside from COVID-19 testing, quarantine concerns and juggling lineups, the Canucks head coach remains a true rink rat.

“Believe me,” he said. “I’m sitting in the apartment and can’t wait to get here. It’s a little bit different this week and our systems are coming along as the week progresses.

“And with all the guys being out with COVID, and guys sort of afraid to come to the rink sometimes because of that and not practising, our conditioning sometimes takes a bit of a drop. 

“Once we start our Florida run and 11 games in 22 days, we’ve got to be in the best shape. We can work harder now and that’s what we’re trying to get this week with practising.”

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Boudreau has instilled a belief system that is paying dividends.

Part of it comes from what he experienced as a player and what he has accomplished in three previous NHL coaching stops.

“When I had success, it was because I believed it was going to happen and when we failed, it was because I could feel a goal was coming,” Boudreau recalled. “I do believe the guys here believe in themselves and that they can win close games. Winning begets winning.”

OVERTIME — Boudreau assumed and was guessing post practice that Brock Boeser was still in Anaheim in COVID-19 protocol, even though Postmedia was told the winger was expected to fly to Vancouver on Monday to close out his quarantine period. Boudreau is also hopeful that Travis Hamonic (lower body) might skate this week and join the club on its trip next week. The Canucks have transferred Ashton Sautner and Spencer Martin from the Vancouver taxi squad to Abbotsford (AHL). Boudreau said the NHL club will likely carry a taxi squad on the trip, but it’s a 20-day maximum for those in the squad. “We don’t want to waste practice time with a taxi squad here because you don’t get much work in with a three-goalie system,” he said.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

twitter.com/@benkuzma

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