Penguins GM Rutherford working hard on three-peat

The 2017-18 NHL season has passed its midway point and the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 26 is less than six weeks away. With that in mind, NHL.com is sitting down this week with some of the biggest names in the game. Today, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, who has overseen back-to-back Stanley Cup titles, talks about what it will take to win a third, including what he might and might not do before the trade deadline.

PITTSBURGH -- You won't find it tucked away in a secret drawer.
Or locked in a stuffy safe.
Other Stanley Cup winners may opt to store their prized championship rings in a secure place, but Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford prefers to wear his shiny 2016 model for all to see.
Whether he's dining at a local restaurant or shopping in the neighborhood, fans gleefully come up to him when they spot it on his finger. In every instance, Rutherford is happy to show it off.
"It gives people a chance to be proud of what their team has accomplished," Rutherford said. "It's from the first Cup we won here."
The ring represents the first of two consecutive Stanley Cups won by the Penguins under Rutherford, the second coming with a six-game victory against the Nashville Predators in the 2017 Final.

Whenever he looks down at his coveted ring, it reminds him of the impressive accomplishments his Penguins have achieved in the past couple of seasons. More importantly, it serves as incentive of the goal that lies ahead.
But continuing the Penguins' Cup run won't be easy. And Rutherford knows it.
No NHL team has won the Stanley Cup three consecutive times since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980-83. And after a slow start to this season that had the Penguins in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division with 43 points after 41 games, making the Stanley Cup Playoffs was in doubt, let alone hosting yet another title parade.
But a 5-2-0 start to 2018 has brought renewed optimism to a rabid fan base, one fueled by the knowledge Rutherford is one of the shrewdest wheelers and dealers in the game.
Since taking over the Penguins in 2014, Rutherford's trades have brought Pittsburgh forwards Phil Kessel and Patric Hornqvist and defenseman Justin Schultz. Fans are confident their GM can do it again.
Asked how he expects the weeks leading up to the trade deadline to play out, Rutherford said he feels there is plenty of uncertainty ahead.
"Well, that's a tough read because this year, more than any I've seen, there are more people in the race," Rutherford said. "So there are going to be more buyers than sellers. And it makes it harder to read the market.
"The prices are high at the deadline. And the prices are high on July 1 [start of free agency]. So that's the understanding that you always have. It's hard to tell where the prices are going to go.
"You're supposed to try to make deals that work for both sides. At last that's the approach that I've had. I'm sure those types of deals are going to be out there."
In the past two seasons, the Penguins have played 213 games (164 regular season, 49 playoffs), far more than any other team. As such, the physical grind is a significant obstacle Pittsburgh must overcome in its quest for another Cup.
At the same time, Rutherford is encouraged by what he has seen lately. In his mind, momentum has started to shift the Penguins' way.
"It even goes back before the new year when I started to see positive signs that we're starting to get to the level that we can achieve," Rutherford said.
As the Penguins prepare for the stretch run with hopes of defending their title, Rutherford took time to discuss a variety of topics with NHL.com.

On oft-injured defenseman Kris Letang, the subject of trade rumors

"Kris is doing fine. The focus got put on him in the first half because he was coming off injuries, and a few periods or games things weren't going right. That was the focus people were talking about. In the meantime, our entire team wasn't playing the way it was capable of. But the last little while, we've played up to our capabilities and everyone has been in line, including Kris. He's a very good player and a big part of our team. He'll be fine. He will be the Kris Letang we all know."

On forward Phil Kessel, whom he acquired in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs on July 1, 2015

"He's been a big part of winning two Stanley Cups. Here he is this year having an extremely good year again (21 goals, 33 assists for 54 points). That's why we got him. I said this after I got to know him a little bit better in the early going: I think I guess the right word would be 'misunderstood' with all the focus on him in Toronto and all the scrutiny on him in Toronto. I'll say the obvious -- he's been a really good addition for us."

On leadership of captain Sidney Crosby

"Nobody knows the game better than Sid. And despite the fact we didn't do as well as we wanted in the first half, he was still playing and setting up a lot of opportunities that didn't get converted. His leadership was very strong through it all. He has a very close relationship with [coach] Mike Sullivan as far as communication. It's on a very regular basis which helps both of them, because it's good input. There's never nor will there ever be concerns about him on or off the ice the way he approaches the game. It's second to no one. And as you know, I've been around the game a long time."

On forward Evgeni Malkin

"He's a very special player. And when you put he and Sid on the ice, back to back shifts, that's tough on another team. Geno does a lot of things for us not a lot of other guys can do. He's a special player. And I think over the past week or two, with the line shakeups, and him playing with Hornqvist and [forward Carl] Hagelin, those guys really compliment his game with [Hornqvist's] kind of play and Hagelin's type of play. That's been really good for us."

On goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury, who won the Stanley Cup three times with Penguins before being selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL Expansion Draft last June

"I couldn't be more pleased for him. I have the utmost respect for him. I got to know him when I got to Pittsburgh. Just a real classy guy and terrific goalie. He and I had talked about different situations, and Vegas was one of those possibilities. I'm not surprised how well he's doing and I'm very, very happy for him."

On whether it's more difficult to win a first Cup or third Cup

"It's difficult to win a Cup at any time. There are different factors for each one. The biggest differences are having a rested, healthy team and not being the target of every team. We've set the standard the past couple of years, and all teams want to measure against us. So, we don't get any easy games. And as long as you can find a way to get through that and get back to the playoffs, it's actually a good thing. Your players learn a lot from that along the way. There's always bumps in the road, but when you are two-time champs, it's not easy."

On how his life has changed after two consecutive Cup wins with Pittsburgh

"I'm not sure it has. Because we have a job to do here. We're like all the other teams in the League. We're trying to win a Cup. It's not easy. I'm sure when I get to a point where I'm not working as much or working at all, that's when I'll realize how much it changed my life. It obviously did, but right now I don't think about it."

On if his hunger to win is as strong as ever after three Cup titles (two with Pittsburgh, one with the Carolina Hurricanes)

"The day I don't have that hunger to win will be my last day. So I'm still working.