Penguins GM Jim Rutherford snaps on Pittsburgh columnist
Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford took a local columnist to task after Game 3 of the team's first-round series with the New York Rangers.
By
Chris Peters
•
2 min read
The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped a close 2-1 decision to the New York Rangers Monday night to fall behind in their first-round series 2-1. The score was close, but the Rangers carried the play for most of that game as the Penguins failed to protect home ice in Game 3.
After the final buzzer, emotions ran hot, with a big scrum erupting behind the Rangers’ net. Emotions were running hot in the underbelly of the CONSOL Energy Center as well in the aftermath of the 2-1 loss.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford had it out with Pittsburgh Tribune-Review columnist Rob Rossi, who has been one of the GM’s staunchest critics this season.
Rossi shared his account of the tense interaction in his column:
After exiting a media elevator and while walking with other reporters to the Penguins' dressing room, Rutherford addressed this columnist, a frequent critic since his hiring last June, in an obscenity-laced diatribe.
“Thanks for your support,” Rutherford said repeatedly.
“You're a (expletive) jerk,” Rutherford said repeatedly.
Rutherford followed the jerk comment with a suggestion to “go sell ice cream now,” then a challenge to look him in the eye, which I did while explaining my role as Trib Total Media's lead sports columnist.
My role is to provide opinion.
“Well, your opinion is (expletive),” Rutherford said
Rossi’s main criticisms this year have been about Rutherford not successfully retooling the team after he was brought in last season to replace the ousted Ray Shero. It’s a fair criticism given where the Penguins finished in the standings and how they’ve played through three games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Not knowing the full scope of the criticisms throughout the year, it obviously went far enough to significantly irk the Penguins GM.
Rutherford’s frustration is probably also tied to the rough Game 3 performance. Starting the game with 11 shots on net through two periods isn’t going to get it done against the Presidents' Trophy winner, or probably anyone for that matter.
The Pens are at a severe disadvantage due to the massive losses on defense, but they’ve been in tough for a while now.
This is an organization that made some changes at the top to try and make improvements. Even though they've had a tough go with all of the injuries this year, the results are what they are and the path this season is eerily similar to more recent ones. The GM has to take on some of the blame in that situation and while he doesn't have to like the criticism, he has to accept the validity of some of the claims.
