BOSTON -- People around the hockey world were stunned when Jim Rutherford announced Wednesday that he was resigning as general manager of the Penguins.
That includes the guy who will replace him, at least on an interim basis.
"I didn't see this coming," said Patrik Allvin, who was promoted to assistant GM in November after spending about 15 years in various scouting roles with the team.
Allvin said he said he and Rutherford "had a couple of conversations regarding our team's potential transactions," Wednesday morning, but that he didn't learn Rutherford was leaving until Rutherford called him around 11:30 a.m., not all that long before his departure was announced.
"Definitely, I was surprised," he said, adding that Rutherford did not explain why he was resigning.
Allvin, whose permanent residence is in Michigan, said he plans to come to Pittsburgh and, after going through a quarantine protocol, to meet with the team after it concludes a four-game road trip in New York Monday night.
He already has spoken with Mike Sullivan, noting that he has "so much respect" for Sullivan as a coach and a person.
"What he has done with this team and this organization, I definitely think he's one of the best, if not the best, coaches in the NHL," Allvin said. "We're on the same page. ... We're definitely looking forward to continue to find the success we've had here over the last five years."
Allvin said his objective will be to "get personnel "to complement the core that we have. I don't see any reason we can't be a competitive team, going for Cups, going forward."
The Penguins' front office is as lean as it has been in years, but Allvin cited Sam Ventura, Erik Heasley, Michele Colaianni and Trevor Daley as staffers who will help him with the day-to-day details of his new position.
"We have a lot of good staff members here," he said. "And we are definitely ready for what's in front of us."
Although Allvin praised Rutherford repeatedly and effusively, he made a point of naming others with him he has worked since joining the organization.
"I started with Ray Shero," he said. "Chuck Fletcher. Jason Botterill. Billy Guerin. Tom Fitzgerald. Randy Sexton. Dan MacKinnon. They're all great friends, great mentors. They all reached out. I know that whenever I need anything, those guys will always be there. I think that speaks highly about the Pittsburgh Penguins organization."
Allvin said the team "is set up for success," and seems prepared to move aggressively to pursue solutions to any personnel issues that might arise, volunteering that the recent spate of injuries on defense "is going to test the depth of our organization and the character of our players."
David Morehouse, the team's president and CEO, already identified Allvin as a candidate to be Rutherford's permanent replacement, and how he -- and the team -- perform in coming weeks likely will impact just how serious of a run he'll make at the job.
"I think we have a lot of good pieces in place here," Allvin said. "Basically, I'm just doing to do my part, my job here, and we'll see how far that takes me."