As the offseason is underway, the Vancouver Canucks have begun their search for a new general manager. Following the departure of Patrik Allvin, the Canucks are weighing their options. Will they go for an experienced “old-head” GM, or will they hire a newer face on the block? Let’s discuss some potential candidates that the Canucks might take a look at.
NHL Rumours and A Familiar Face Could Be the Front-Runners
Rumour: Based on a report from The Athletic, the Vancouver Canucks have requested to speak with former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams. On top of that, the Canucks are likely to be talking to other, experienced candidates, according to Donnie and Dhali.
Analysis: Based on how Canucks president Jim Rutherford has hired his staff in the past, including Allvin, he may look for someone he knows. That could range from someone he has worked with, or someone who played for him when he was the GM on another team.
Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire
Many Candidates Linked to Rutherford
Ryan Johnson is the candidate with the most knowledge about the Canucks, as he is the current GM of the Abbotsford Canucks. He led Abbotsford to an AHL Calder Cup championship in 2025 and worked with the current prospects in the organization. However, if he were indeed the top candidate, he could already have been hired. Of course, the Canucks may be trying to do a more comprehensive search and do their due diligence first.
On Tuesday, Matthew Fairburn and Thomas Drance of The Athletic reported that the Canucks had requested permission to speak with former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams. The Sabres reportedly also granted permission for the Canucks to do so. Adams spent five seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes as a player, under, guess who, Jim Rutherford. Despite the inability of the Sabres to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs under Adams, he was responsible for drafting players like Owen Power and JJ Peterka, as well as signing Tage Thompson to a long-term extension.
Continuing on the Sabres’ front, Sam Ventura could be another candidate. He was the director of analytics under Rutherford in Pittsburgh, so the connection is there. Furthermore, Rutherford has been a firm believer in using analytics to the team’s advantage.
Ryan Bowness is another candidate that Rutherford is familiar with. The son of current Blue Jackets head coach Rick Bowness, he worked for Rutherford as a pro scout in 2017 and was promoted to director of pro scouting in 2019. He is currently the assistant general manager of the New York Islanders. Previously, he was also the assistant general manager for the Ottawa Senators.
Could An Experienced GM Be One the Canucks Choose?
Just like with head coaches, general managers can also be hired in a “carousel” manner, leading to a league with the same names circling around, as part of these or any NHL Rumours. Take the relatively recent hires of Don Waddell (Blue Jackets) and Ken Holland (Kings), for example. A lot of these former GMs could be desperate for work, including recently fired Brad Treliving and Tom Fitzgerald. Other names include Peter Chiarelli, Rob Blake, or Marc Bergevin. As the Canucks have a history of hiring rookie GMs, such as Mike Gillis, Jim Benning, and Patrik Allvin, one of these names could be the choice.
One thing worthy of note is how long Jim Rutherford will stick around. Based on his press conference, he may leave after he believes the team is in good hands. Considering that, the next general manager may also end up taking on the president’s role as well. For that to happen, the organization may believe that experience is the greatest asset.
"You're going to hear names like Peter Chiarelli and Tom Fitzgerald, guys who are desperate for a job.."@DhaliwalSports shared some possible names that could end up on the list for the next #Canucks GM.https://t.co/GAYm4jT6bu pic.twitter.com/qh6bS1xXFP
— Donnie & Dhali (@DonnieandDhali) April 20, 2026
Canucks Could Also Think Outside the Box
Another direction the team could take is agents, who represent players and negotiate contracts on a regular basis. Kent Hughes and Bill Zito are the strongest examples of former agents who have done an excellent job with their current teams. The one agent who has had extensive dealings with the Canucks is Dan Milstein, who currently represents four players on the current Canucks roster. He also facilitated the trades of former Canucks Ilya Mikheyev and Andrei Kuzmenko. Someone like Milstein is a long shot to be the next GM, given a recent player-agent poll that ranked the Canucks as the worst-run organization in the NHL. Still, given the knowledge agents possess and their skill sets, it is a valid direction for the Canucks to pursue.
As the search for a new GM continues, the Canucks understand that this decision is critical. The right voice to lead the team through a rebuild could go a long way toward the future success of the team.
Main Photo: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
