The Vancouver Canucks have looked up Highway 1 for a new general manager and to the past for a pair of president of hockey operations.
The NHL club announced the hiring of 2025 Calder Cup winner Ryan Johnson as GM and hockey hall of famers Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-POHOs on Thursday (May 14).
Vancouver Canucks Chairman & Governor, NHL, Francesco Aquilini announced today that Daniel and Henrik Sedin have been promoted to Co-Presidents of Hockey Operations and Ryan Johnson has been named the 13th General Manager in franchise history.
DETAILS | https://t.co/V0qXipKC0K pic.twitter.com/cNT9yat6QD
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) May 14, 2026
Johnson originally got involved with the Canucks after his playing career as a development coach in 2013-14, became an assistant director of player development in 2015-16 and then was hired as the general manager of the team’s American Hockey League affiliate the Utica Comets in 2017-18. He also served as the Canucks director of player development starting in 2017-18.
When the Canucks moved the team’s affiliate to Abbotsford in 2021 he became the first-ever GM of the Abbotsford Canucks and then took on an assistant general manager role starting in 2022-23. Johnson was the architect of the Abbotsford Canucks Calder Cup winning team in 2025 and helped the team make the playoffs in four out of five seasons.
He steps into a role made vacant by the firing of Patrik Allvin on April 17.
Johnson thanked ownership, past management and the Sedins for the opportunity. He also shouted out the Abbotsford Canucks and the fans of the Fraser Valley for the journey he’s been on there since 2021.
“I think my journey here has been very organic,” he said. “I started as a consultant with Mike Gillis [former GM] and Stan Smyl and I’ve spent a lot of time just listening, observing and taking in information. You go from development into managing an AHL team and working with amateur and pro staffs – it’s been an organic journey.”
Johnson said he’s proud of the work he’s done in the Canucks organization and is ready for the Vancouver job.
“I haven’t jumped the line and I never had an agenda to work my way here,” he said of the GM role. “I just wanted to do good work with good people and it’s led me to this.”
The Sedins and Johnson were teammates in Vancouver from 2008 to 2010 and Johnson was their choice. The Sedins also stated they have 100 per cent autonomy on all Canucks decisions.
They were asked about a timeline for a rebuild to be completed, but that there will not be a race to become a top team. Vancouver finished as the worst team in the NHL in 2025-26.
“To put any type of timeline on it is unfair to the process,” Johnson said. “We’re going to be very strategic about everything we do. We’re going to stick to the vision we talked about in May of 2026 and if we stick to that – have the right people and the right environment – we will take the steps to where we want to go.”
The trio did not give an answer on the status of head coach Adam Foote, but Johnson said last season was challenging to judge his ability as a coach on.
“If you look at last year as a whole it’s really tough to evaluate a coach or anyone with all the adversity, injuries, goaltending and everything that went on,” he said. “Obviously there was some drama around the group. So to evaluate Adam just on that is unfair.”
The Sedins stated that community involvement is a big priority moving forward.
“26 years ago when we flew into the city Brian Burke told us that this was the number one organization in the league when it comes to community involvement,” Daniel said. “And we need to get back that point. We should be the number one organization in the NHL when it comes to community involvement. We’re going to ask our players to do a lot.”
The trio was also asked about the team’s proposed practice rink, with Henrik stating that it is coming soon. Vancouver will soon be the only franchise in the NHL without a practice rink.
“It’s very close to having a deal done and we’re super excited to see it happen,” he said. “I think it’s going to help the community. So we’re getting there, we’re getting close.”
The next big event on the calendar for the Canucks is the NHL Draft, which is set for June 26 and 27. The Canucks possess the third overall pick at that event.