Sportsnet: So you’re not considering as trade chips guys like Willander and Pettersson, Jonathan Lekkerimaki, and Braeden Cootes?

Rutherford: That is not in the plan. People use different words as to how a team goes forward. Some people use ‘rebuild.’ Some use the word ‘transition.’ You can spin it whatever way you like. ‘Retool.’ But the fact of the matter is, we’re at a point where our amateur scouts and development staff under Patrik have done a good job in building up a good group of young players, and it would take something extreme for us to start cutting into that. Now, I’m not saying we wouldn’t trade one of these players. But if we did, it would be for somebody that’s 25 years or younger. Even our core, older guys are still in their 20s; we’re still a relatively young team. It’s not like we’re an aging team that’s got nowhere to go.

Sportsnet: Quinn Hughes’ future will be a subplot all season. Will his decision next summer, whether to re-sign with the Canucks or ask out to play with his brothers, determine which direction the team-building takes?

Rutherford: No, I don’t think so. I think as long as we stay the course and keep getting younger players that we feel will play (in the NHL) and contribute to a team that can become a consistent playoff team and a contender, then that’s what we would do.

Sportsnet: So what’s the best-case scenario from here?

Rutherford: The best-case scenario is we get our players back, we (stick with) the priority we’ve had for six months to get another centre, and then see where we’re at. Take a run at making the playoffs. And if you get in the playoffs, you just never know.

Sportsnet: And if that doesn’t work?

Rutherford: Then the downside of it is stay the course, stick with what I just said, and we miss the playoffs. So we win the (draft) lottery and get a top-five pick and keep building a team that is relatively young, where most of our players are in their 20s. Just keep adding good players.

Sportsnet: But not a full rebuild?

Rutherford: Rebuilds can work. But you have to understand rebuilds take a long time. There has to be a lot of patience, and for the teams that take the biggest jump and ultimately rebuild and win a Cup, they usually have a first-overall pick. And you still have to get lucky on that. I’m not naming teams, but some have tried a rebuild and had a ton of draft picks that didn’t turn out. So a rebuild is not something that we’re going to look at doing. Like I said, we’re in transition. But we’re not trading all these players for draft picks that may or may not end up playing someday.

Sportsnet: Even if you wanted to do a rebuild, would your owner allow it?

Rutherford: To this point, I’ve had total freedom to do what I want. Francesco (Aquilini) has been very supportive from Day 1, from the time he met me and hired me. He hasn’t interfered. He has left it in my hands.