In a stunning move, Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford resigned Wednesday, citing personal reasons.

"There always has been so much support from everyone involved with the Penguins, both on the hockey and business staffs, and, of course, from a special group of players led by Sidney Crosby," Rutherford said in a statement. "The fans here have been tremendous to me and my family. I know it's a little unusual to have this happen during a season, but just felt this was the right time to step away."

Patrik Allvin, who had recently been promoted as Penguins assistant general manager, will serve as interim GM as the team begins an immediate search for Rutherford's successor. According to the team, Allvin will consult with Mario Lemieux, the team's Hall of Fame owner, for input and advice during the interim period.

The 71-year-old Rutherford had been Penguins general manager since the 2014-15 season. The Penguins made the playoffs in each of his six seasons, winning Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, and Rutherford was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. Before joining the Penguins, Rutherford had a 20-year run as the president and general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers franchise from 1994 to 2015 and won a Stanley Cup in Carolina in 2006.

"Absolutely shocked," a rival general manager told ESPN in a text message. "Did not see this coming."

Rutherford, who had a 13-year career as a goaltender in the NHL, was known as a wheeler and dealer during his time with the Penguins, constantly trying to retool the cast around Crosby and Evgeni Malkin -- especially over the past two seasons, as he tried to engineer another championship run out of the aging core. Two years ago, he shipped Phil Kessel to Arizona and last year sent Patric Hornqvist to Florida.

In a statement, Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said Rutherford "has been an amazing representative of the Pittsburgh Penguins."

"He'll always have a special place in our team's history, his own legacy," Moorehouse said. "He'll always be part of the Penguins."

The 46-year-old Allvin, a native of Falun, Sweden, is in his 15th year with the Penguins hockey operation staff. He began as a scout in 2006 and worked his way up until he was promoted to assistant general manager in November.