Rutherford denies having Leafs escape clause

Carolina Hurricanes president and general manager Jim Rutherford on Saturday denied a rumour that he has a one-team escape clause in his contract that would allow him to join the Toronto Maple Leafs.

"That's not true," Rutherford told CBC Sports' Elliotte Friedman during all-star weekend festivities in Atlanta. "I do not have any outs in my contract."

Rutherford also refused to address rumours that he's interested in making a move to the Leafs, who are seeking a president and GM after relieving John Ferguson of his GM duties earlier this week and hiring Cliff Fletcher on an interim basis.

"It's rumoured everybody's interested. I've heard lots of names," Rutherford said. "I don't think it's appropriate that I comment on it.

"I work for the Hurricanes, we're in the middle of a season, and that's about as far as I go with an answer right now."

Rutherford, a 58-year-old native of Beeton, Ont., has been the president and GM of the Hurricanes franchise (formerly known as the Hartford Whalers) since 1994.