Is Ryan Johnson destined to be next GM of Vancouver Canucks?
Typically, NHL teams allow their assistant general managers to explore promotions with other teams.
In this case, however, the Vancouver Canucks don’t appear to be doing things typically.
CHEK’s Rick Dhaliwal reported on Wednesday that the Canucks have denied assistant general manager Ryan Johnson permission to speak with the Nashville Predators about their GM search.
Although it’s not completely unheard of, the reported denial is out of the ordinary.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday that four current assistant NHL general managers have already interviewed with the Predators.
It raises the question, why would the Canucks deny Johnson the opportunity to interview with Nashville?
Could the rationale be that he’s the next general manager of the Canucks?
Despite all the turnover in Vancouver over the last decade, Johnson has remained the one constant within the organization.
He was hired by the Canucks back in 2013 as a player development consultant. That means he’s remained in Vancouver dating all the way back to the Mike Gillis regime.
Under Jim Benning, Johnson earned a promotion as general manager of the Canucks’ AHL affiliate back in 2017. After Jim Rutherford was hired by the Canucks, Johnson wasn’t only retained but was promoted as special assistant to the general manager.
The Dwight Schrute-esque job title was then dropped in 2024, when the Canucks promoted Johnson to assistant general manager.
Throughout all the title changes, he’s remained in charge of the Canucks AHL affiliate, where he constructed a squad that won the Calder Cup in 2025.
Johnson has seen it all in Vancouver, from the end of the Gillis regime, through nearly a decade of Benning’s blunders, followed by the roller coaster ride of Rutherford and Allvin’s tenure. It’s probably fair to say he’s learned a lesson or two by seeing three different management teams at work.
He’s even added experience, such as salary cap management, during his time with the Canucks as well.
As the Canucks weigh their managerial options at the conclusion of this horrendous season, the report that Johnson isn’t being allowed to interview with other teams only increases speculation that he could be in line for a promotion with the Canucks.
āHeās going to be an NHL GM someday,” Dhaliwal said back in September. It is not a surprise to me that Johnson is looked at as one of the up-and-comers.ā
The former Canucks centre has also been applauded by his former boss, Trevor Linden.
āHeās got a real good feel for the game,” Linden told The Athletic back in 2018. “He understands players and has a good eye for them.ā
Johnson has proven that so far during his time with the Canucks. And through all the promotions, the next logical one is becoming an NHL GM.