What other members of 2011 Canucks will rejoin the organization?
Vancouver Canucks fans will never forget 2011.
Even if they wanted to, it becomes harder to do so when members of that team are holding prominent roles in the organization.
Henrik and Daniel Sedin are co-presidents of the Canucks. Manny Malhotra is the head coach. Further down the organizational depth chart, Mikael Samuelsson is a coach on the development side, while Alex Edler is reportedly on the verge of joining the club as well.
All of this Canucks representation in the organization makes you wonder, will anyone else from the 2011 team come on board next?
Update on Canucks franchise legends
There are several Canucks from the 2011 squad who have worked in hockey since their retirement. That includes two players who currently sit in the Ring of Honour.
Roberto Luongo has two Stanley Cup rings for his work as an assistant general manager for the Florida Panthers. While Canucks fans and media have speculated about his return to Vancouver, it seems unlikely considering his ties to South Florida. His wife, Gina, hails from the area.
If there is any shot of him moving, it might revolve around the fact that both of his kids are growing up. His daughter, Gabriela, is 18, while his son, Giani, is 15. However, you’d think Luongo may only want to move for a promotion, something that isn’t possible right now in Vancouver.
Another Canucks legend, Alex Burrows, has been working with the Montreal Canadiens organization since 2018. He was an assistant coach with the Laval Rocket for three seasons before joining the Canadiens as an assistant coach in 2021. Then, in 2024, he elected to step back into player development so that he could spend more time with his family.
If he does join the Canucks, it would likely be a largely remote role, which is feasible on the player development side.
Other 2011 Canucks who work in hockey
While some 2011 Canucks have worked in hockey, two fourth-line players from that era have been climbing the front office depth chart in other organizations.
Jeff Tambellini, who reportedly interviewed for the Canucks GM opening, currently holds the titles of assistant general manager and director of hockey operations for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Like Luongo, it’s hard to see him coming to Vancouver, considering that he’d be making a lateral move as opposed to getting a promotion.
Tanner Glass, however, could find a promotion with the Canucks.
The former tough guy has been working with the New York Rangers organization since 2019-20. Last season, he was promoted to director of player development. Glass was with the Canucks alongside GM Ryan Johnson in 2009-10, where the two were occasionally linemates.
Tanner Glass has been rising through the ranks of the New York Rangers organization. (Dennis Wierzbicki/Imagn Images)
Another potential candidate to join the Canucks from 2011 is defenceman Sami Salo. The 51-year-old has been an assistant coach for TPS in Finland’s Liiga since 2017-18. He’s got more pro-experience behind the bench than anyone else from the 2011 team.
One ex-Canuck with far less coaching experience than Salo is Cory Schneider, who’s currently a goalie coach for the New York Islanders AHL affiliate. He’s also spent some time working in sports media and has a podcast with ex-NHLer Brian Boyle.
It’s also fair to wonder if the Canucks could reunite with Chris Higgins in some capacity. He worked in player development for the Canucks up until 2024. Although after he called out players currently on the club for character issues, a reunion may be unlikely.
Here are other members of the 2011 team who hold some type of role in hockey:
- Dan Hamhuis (owner of the WHL’s Prince George Cougars)
- Ryan Parent (head coach of the AHL’s Utica Comets)
- Joel Perrault (head coach of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic)
- Aaron Rome (head coach, U17 Brandon Wheat Kings AAA)
- Mario Bliznak (general manager of HK Dukla Trencin in Slovakia)
- Raffi Torres (coaches youth hockey in Ontario)
- Andrew Alberts (director of player development for Sense Arena, a VR hockey training company)
2011 Canucks working in sports media
A handful of 2011 Canucks have gone the sports media route rather than joining hockey clubs, with the prime example being Kevin Bieksa.
The former Canucks defenceman is the star of Hockey Night in Canada, recently picking up a Canadian sports broadcasting award for his efforts. However, Bieksa also has coaching experience. He currently works as an assistant coach for Fairmont Prep’s U18 AAA team down in California.
Jannik Hansen has made waves in the city on many occasions for his bold, unapologetic takes during weekly appearances on Sportsnet 650. Could his boldness be beneficial to a rebuilding Canucks team?
Max Lapierre has been working as a French NHL analyst for years, and he currently appears on the popular La Poche Bleu podcast.
Finally, Christian Ehrhoff has actually founded his own sports media company in Germany, called Undrafted Sports Media GmbH.