The guy once thought to be next Canucks GM lands gig with new team
Evan Gold very nearly became the next GM of the Vancouver Canucks earlier this summer, and now he’s landed a new job somewhere else.
It seemed like Gold had the inside track for the Canucks job in the final days of the process, but ultimately came up short when Vancouver opted to go with Ryan Johnson instead. Rumours were flying that Gold was the front-runner and that he was potentially the pick from ownership.
When that fell apart, Gold was forced to look elsewhere for a new role. He had spent the past seven years working as an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins, but was not expected to return to the organization for the upcoming season.
It turns out that he will be headed to the New York Islanders, who announced on Monday that they had hired Gold as an assistant GM for the NHL squad and GM of their AHL team, the Hamilton Hammers.
“Evan brings a rare combination of experience, intelligence, and results to our Hockey Operations department,” said Islanders GM Mathieu Darche in a release. “Over the past several years, he has excelled in nearly every facet of building a successful franchise at the NHL and AHL levels — from contract negotiations and cap management to leading the Providence Bruins to the best record in the AHL this past season.
“His background, combined with his legal and business acumen, makes him an outstanding fit for our department as we continue building a team that competes on the island and in Hamilton.”
#Isles News: The New York Islanders announced today that the club has hired Evan Gold as Assistant General Manager and General Manager of the Hamilton Hammers. He joins Mathieu Darche’s Hockey Operations staff and will be involved in all facets of the club’s hockey operations.
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) August 3, 2026
The 46-year-old Gold will not get his chance to shine as an NHL GM quite yet, but will join an Islanders front office that includes GM Mathieu Darche, as well as fellow AGMs Chris Lamoriello, Steve Pellegrini, and Ryan Bowness.
It will be a unique opportunity for Gold, as it appears most of his duties will pertain to the Islanders AHL team, which is embarking on its first season since relocating to Hamilton this past summer.
“My family and I could not be more excited to be joining the Islanders organization,” Gold said in a release. “I am incredibly grateful to Mathieu and the entire Islanders ownership group for the opportunity to be part of such a respected franchise and to help build a Stanley Cup champion on Long Island.
“The Islanders have a rich history, a passionate fan base, and a deep connection to the community. It is an honor to join this organization, and I look forward to working alongside Mathieu, our players, coaches, and staff to build a team that our fans can be proud of for years to come.”
This will be the only other organization that Gold has worked for after entering the league with the Bruins during the 2015-16 NHL season. He won’t be moving too far, as Long Island is a mere four-hour drive away from Boston, and the Islanders are set to take on the Bruins a total of three times this upcoming season.
Only time will tell if the Canucks made the right decision choosing Johnson over Gold. For now, the focus will be on continuing the rebuild and getting Vancouver back to a contending team over the next few seasons.