The Vancouver Canucks appear to have circled back to their initial choice in the search for a new hockey boss. Ryan Johnson, long considered the preferred candidate of outgoing president Jim Rutherford, is now expected to take the helm of hockey operations.
Reports from CHEK-TV's Rick Dhaliwal, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, and Canucks Army's Irfaan Gaffar, along with sources speaking to Postmedia, indicate that Johnson will assume the role. This development follows a search process during which Rutherford claimed to have interviewed 17 or 18 candidates, none of whom surpassed the experienced and highly regarded Johnson.
Johnson has been with the Canucks organization since 2013, initially joining as a development coach. He was promoted to director of player development in 2017 and also named general manager of the team's AHL affiliate, then based in Utica, New York. He has continued as AHL GM and later added titles with the NHL club, including special assistant to the general manager in 2022 and assistant general manager in 2024.
Rutherford praised Johnson's abilities back in 2022, noting that Johnson was one of the few senior management members with day-to-day experience. Alongside Stan Smyl and the Sedin twins, Johnson was a holdover from the Jim Benning era and the only one among them who had meaningfully handled player transactions.
Now, four years later, Johnson is poised to take over from Rutherford and former GM Patrik Allvin, who was dismissed at the end of the 2025-26 season. Rutherford offered Allvin a role as a super scout, but sources indicate Allvin is unlikely to accept.
Until Tuesday morning, it was uncertain Johnson would get the job. Reports late last week suggested Boston Bruins assistant GM Evan Gold was the preferred candidate, but he suddenly fell out of consideration for unclear reasons.
Rutherford did not comment on reports that Johnson is the pick, and no official announcement timeline has been set. However, Johnson has been heavily involved in recent meetings with pro scouts and is expected to lead amateur scout meetings this week.
The Canucks hold the third overall pick in next month's draft, a critical selection for the team's future. They also have a late first-round pick from the Quinn Hughes trade with the Minnesota Wild, plus two second-round selections. All four picks must develop into important NHL players as the team focuses on giving opportunities to young talent.
On Monday, it was reported that the Sedin twins will take on larger roles in hockey operations, moving away from coaching. Their exact titles are pending, but they are expected to serve as key advisers to Johnson.
The future of Johnson's fellow assistant GMs, Emilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato, remains unclear. Castonguay, who handles contracts and cap management, is likely to stay, while Granato oversees scouting and development.
