So, after finally bringing the hammer down on Head Coach, Bruce Boudreau (officially) Canucks President of Hockey Operations, Jim Rutherford NOW apologizes for his mishandling of Boudreau's termination.
Now.
Really?
Rutherford admits he talked too much and that he needs to "zip it" in the future. Yes Jim, good on you for 'realizing' what every Canucks fan and hockey media analyst have been saying for weeks now. Interesting timing though, that you do it AFTER you're in the clear. Kind of like admitting to the crime only after you land and get off the plane in a non-extradition country.
The fact is, HOW Jim Rutherford handled the termination of his coach, and his inability to recognize the myriad mistakes being made along the way despite the entire hockey community signaling him with giant flashing lights and sirens the entire time, speaks to Rutherford's inability to do the job well. If he can mishandle this, something so sensitive and obvious, what else does he mishandle? What other job functions can't he be trusted to perform properly?
We need players on this team that can be relied upon to play well consistently and not make dumb, costly mistakes. We need coaches that also perform consistently and don't make dumb mistakes. Similarly, we also need management and executives that hold themselves to the same standards; executives who's judgment can consistently be trusted and who's competence and abilities to improve things rather than degrade things can be counted on consistently. If players are to be benched and ultimately traded for breaching that standard, and coaches are to be terminated for doing the same, then executives should be equally accountable.
Today's self-revelations from the Canucks' head of hockey operations is simply too little too late!