Saturday's roundup: Rutherford won't engage Karmanos
There will be no public war of words between Jim Rutherford and Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr.
Karmanos made some pointed remarks Wednesday about Rutherford, the former Canes president and general manager and now GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Karmanos also took a few jabs at the Penguins, who traded for high-priced forward Phil Kessel on Wednesday.
The Penguins said Thursday that Rutherford would not be commenting.
"We've all said things we probably shouldn't say. Unfortunately for Mr. Karmanos, he seems to have done it in a press conference," David Morehouse, the Penguins' president and CEO, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Jim's had nothing but good things to say about his experience in Carolina, about Mr. Karmanos, about how they were able to build a team that won a Stanley Cup."
The Canes this week announced they were buying out the contract of forward Alex Semin — a $14 million decision. Semin signed a five-year, $35 million extension in March 2013 — when Rutherford was GM – but was a huge disappointment, scoring six goals last season.
Karmanos, talking to the media Wednesday at PNC Arena, said he took responsibility for the Semin signing. Later, noticing a TSN graphic on a conference-room TV detailing the Kessel trade, he said: "Pittsburgh has no first-round picks anymore. They traded their first-round pick from the year before. They traded their first-round pick for this year, and now they've traded their first-round pick for next year. But they have Kessel, who may score as many goals as Alex Semin did."
Noting Penguins majority owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle are trying to sell part of the franchise, Karmanos added the team would be sold "for between $700 and $800 million in Pittsburgh and the cupboard will be pretty bare by that time."
Morehouse took issue with that, as well, in his comments to the Post-Gazette.
"Everyone's entitled to their opinion," he said. "But I don't think that having Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Marc-Andre Fleury, Kris Letang and now Phil Kessel — all at, or under, 30 and under contract for the foreseeable future — constitutes a bare cupboard."
Ron Francis was promoted to the Canes' general manager when Rutherford stepped down in April 2014. Asked to compare Francis with Rutherford, Karmanos said: "Ron is far more inclusive, so he's asking a lot of questions, and I give him my opinion. I'm not going to second-guess him. He's far more astute on the financial end of the game.
"Ronnie is a no-nonsense guy when it comes to those kinds of contracts. And he's not worried he might get criticized if his team doesn't do as well as people think it should. So he doesn't panic when it comes to signing players or worrying about that kind of thing. That doesn't mean he doesn't make good signings, because he does. We have an outstanding working relationship."
Rutherford joined Karmanos and the late Thomas Thewes in buying the Hartford Whalers in 1994 and was the franchise president and general manager for 20 years. Rutherford sold his financial interest in the team but in recent years again became a Hurricanes investor before taking the Pittsburgh job.
When Rutherford stepped down as the Canes' GM, Karmanos said: "Jim's my best friend, and I'm very happy for him. He has been the face of the Hurricanes, and we will miss him. The fact we've built such an exceptional organization is a testament to how good he was at his job. As far as I'm concerned he's one of the best general managers in the league."
Ice chips
Veteran center Shawn Horcoff (Michigan State) agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Ducks. Horcoff, 37, had 29 points and a plus-9 rating in 76 games for the Stars last season.
... The Wild re-signed goalie Devan Dubnyk to a six-year contract. Financial terms were not available. Dubnyk posted a 1.78 goals-against average while starting 39 of the final 40 games as the Wild climbed back into the playoff picture.
... Predators signed free-agent forward Cody Bass to a one-year, two-way contract. Bass had six goals and eight assists for the AHL's Rockford IceHogs this past season
... Capitals signed free-agent goalie Dan Ellis to a one-year, two-way contract. Ellis, 35, went 4-3-1 with a 2.35 goals-against average in eight games with the Panthers last season.