from Jonathan Bombulie of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review,

“Am I disappointed? Yes. Makes me sick, actually,” he said. “More sick than I've ever been in my career when I've managed a team. I feel for the fans. I feel for everybody.”

But Rutherford also is optimistic.

In November 2005, when he was general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, his team lost 9-0 at home to the lowly Atlanta Thrashers. Seven months later, the Hurricanes were celebrating with the Stanley Cup.

He sees no reason a similar turnaround can't be in the cards for the Penguins.

“The fact of the matter is we have a good group of guys here,” Rutherford said, “and we can still make this thing work.”

The Tribune-Review sat down with Rutherford while the Penguins practiced Sunday at Consol Energy Center to get his take on the state of the team.

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