Vancouver Canucks Executive Set to Depart the Organization for Once-in-a-Lifetime GM Promotion

The Vancouver Canucks and their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks are gearing up for another season with their respective training camps set to get underway within a couple weeks of each other.

While it might have been a disappointing season in Vancouver, Abbotsford are coming off their first-ever Calder Cup championship, with General Manager Ryan Johnson playing a big role in getting the team to that point.

As Johnson enters his 13th season in the Vancouver Canucks organization - working his way up from a Development Coach all the way to being an NHL Assistant GM, it looks like other teams from around the league are keeping a close eye on him.

During a recent edition of Donnie & Dhali, NHL insider Rick Dhaliwal shared some interesting information regarding Vancouver Canucks Assistant General Manager Ryan Johnson heading into the 2025-26 season.

According to Dhaliwal, he heard that other teams around the National Hockey League have been quite impressed with the work he's done, especially with the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Canucks.

Dhaliwal went on to add Johnson is being looked at as a potential General Manager candidate in the National Hockey League in the years ahead, a role that he's more than prepared for after spending over a decade in the Canucks' front office.

The 49-year-old has been a loyal servant for the Vancouver Canucks organization, not matter what role he's taken on and after 13 years with the club, with this season marking his 13th as mentioned, it wouldn't shock anyone in the slightest if he were to land a GM job in the NHL next summer.

Where could that opportunity be? It's too early to say, but potential General Managers on the hot seat entering this season include Detroit's Steve Yzerman, Buffalo's Kevyn Adams and potentially even Patrik Allvin of the Vancouver Canucks.