Canucks Notebook: Has Patrik Allvin Moved To The Top Of GM’s Hiring List?

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Jim Rutherford may have dropped a hiring hint.

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

Rutherford is working to narrow his list of general manager candidates to five, and current Pittsburgh Penguins assistant general manager Patrik Allvin deserves serious consideration. And in a review of the hiring criteria, and Rutherford’s connection to the respected hockey operations operator, he could be the frontrunner.

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

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“What I hope is a guy who can come in, grow with work and be here for a long time.”

Rutherford had said early on during his arrival press conference in Vancouver that he enjoys the mentoring process and the property is in favor of taking that approach.

That sounds a lot like Allvin.

“It would be a logical hire on those parameters,” a longtime Penguins watcher said Monday.

Two years ago, Rutherford promoted Allvin to the Penguins AGM job after the clever Swedish hockey mind started out as a European scout with Ray Shero in 2006 and then methodically worked his way through the organization.

He earned Rutherford’s trust by running the amateur scouting team for years and currently handles the club’s salary cap and collective bargaining matters.

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

Rutherford’s hockey Rolodex reads like a who’s who, and judging by those you’ve worked with – Bill Guerin, Tom Fitzgerald, Jason Botterill, and Jason Karmanos – there are others you may want to consider as well. But Allvin could be at the forefront of that line.

Boudreau is a real track rat

As expected, Bruce Boudreau appreciates the challenge of holding four practices this week and keeping his club engaged ahead of 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 track rat.

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

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“And with all the guys coming out with COVID, and the guys are a little scared to come on the track sometimes because of it and they’re not practicing, our conditioning sometimes goes down a bit.

“Once we start our Florida career and 11 games in 22 days, we have to be in top shape. We can work harder now and that is what we are trying to achieve this week with practice. “

Boudreau has instilled a belief system that is paying dividends.

Part of this comes from what he experienced as a player and what he accomplished in three previous NHL training stops.

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

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OVERTIME – Boudreau assumed and was guessing after practice that Brock Boeser was still in Anaheim on the COVID-19 protocol, despite Postmedia being told the winger was expected to fly to Vancouver on Monday to close his quarantine period. Boudreau is also hopeful that Travis Hamonic (lower body) can skate this week and join the club on their journey 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 bring a squad of taxis on the trip, but it’s a maximum of 20 days for those in the squad. “We don’t want to waste practice time with a taxi squad here because you don’t do much work with a three-door system,” he said.

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