The honesty

For Penguins coach Mike Sullivan, one of his favorite Rutherford traits is the honesty.

“No fluff” is a descriptor Sullivan has used often to describe his boss, and he’s right. Rutherford is unique in the sense that he doesn’t beat around the bush; if he plans to do something or thinks a certain way about something, he’s perfectly willing to articulate that.

Even the Hall of Fame, which some people might say they’ve never, ever thought about … well, Rutherford isn’t about to lie. “Nobody’s going to buy it I said I never thought about it,” Rutherford said in early April. “But I didn’t think about it until just recently. I grew up in a small town. I was happy to be able to make it to the NHL. I played 13 years. I was one of the fortunate ones who got to keep doing what I loved doing. I loved being in the game.

Maurice joked about the cleanliness of Rutherford’s desk — there is, amazingly, very little on it at all times — but pointed to several slips of paper Rutherford would keep with reporters’ names on them.

“One time I said to him, ‘Are you calling all those guys back?’” Maurice recalled. “Jim said, ‘ Every single one.’ And that was how I started to learn how to deal with the media.

“He’d say, ‘ These guys have a job and a time line. Whether you like what they say or not, part of your job is to handle that.’ Every day there would be four or five slips on his desk, and he wouldn’t leave until he got it all done.”

Whether it’s media or those around him, Rutherford’s authenticity has resonated. It has made him many lifelong friends in this game and garnered him universal respect.

“If I was ever in a situation where I had one phone call,” Maurice said, “it’s to Jim Rutherford because you trust that he has your best interest at heart.

“He’s a very, very caring human being. At his core, it might be what makes him great.”

The feel

Maurice basically was Rutherford’s version of Billy Martin — fired twice in Carolina. Each time, Maurice left Rutherford’s office with a thought.

“Nobody likes getting fired, but I left the office going, ‘You’re right. It’s time. I’ve dropped as many Fbombs as I can.’” Maurice said. “I was still a good coach but not the right fit, and he knew that.”

Rutherford’s feel and intuition come from the personal relationships he has developed with people over the years, and they’ve manifested themselves in the moves he has made — the majority of the time turning out to be preciselythe right ones.

For Morehouse, he cited Rutherford’s decision to put his ego aside and fire the coach he had recently hired, Mike Johnston, which led to Sullivan’s promotion.

There’s also deals for Carl Hagelin and Trevor Daley, and that’s only with the Penguins.

“He’s a magician with that sort of stuff,” Morehouse said.

Added Maurice, “He has a wonderful knack of making the right move to get exactly what that team specifically needs. I think that comes from him caring so deeply about the people he works with.”

For Sullivan, one of the things he has absorbed from Rutherford is his listening ability.

“He’s the best listener I’ve ever been around,” Sullivan said.

Come Tuesday, these men will be the ones listening, along with Rutherford, hoping that a Toronto area code pops up on his phone.

“I think it’s his time,” Recchi said. “I think it’s wonderful. I think he’s earned it, deserves it, and I hope [this] week that he gets that exciting call.”