It has been a chaotic last few days for the Vancouver Canucks’ general manager and front-office search, but that process looks to be near its end. The situation is very fluid, and has been heavily discussed. In another Canucks’ edition of NHL Rumours, we will discuss the change in direction from the last day or so.
Credit Image: © Alex Cave/ZUMA Press Wire
NHL Rumours and Johnson Likely to Lead Canucks’ Front Office
Rumours: According to various sources (Elliotte Friedman, Rick Dhaliwal, Farhan Lalji, Irfaan Gaffar), Evan Gold looks to be out of the mix for the Canucks GM role. Furthermore, current AGM Ryan Johnson will lead hockey operations for Vancouver. The Sedin twins, as reported yesterday, will also take up a bigger role in the team.
We will see where this goes over the next day or so, but hearing momentum is moving in Ryan Johnson’s direction for Vancouver’s head of hockey operations.
Nothing is done until it’s done, but that’s the latest
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 12, 2026
My gut says Ryan Johnson has been offered a position, either director of hockey ops or GM.
Deal is not done.
Sedin twins will have big say.
Do not get the sense Evan Gold is still in the mix.
— Rick Dhaliwal (@DhaliwalSports) May 12, 2026
Analysis: With Gold out of the mix, the big question is, why? As previously reported, Jim Rutherford, the outgoing president of the team, heavily pushed for Johnson to be the GM. Contract negotiations between Gold and the Canucks might have also fallen apart due to a hierarchy issue that could have arisen.
What Could Have Led Evan Gold to Come Out of the Running for GM?
It all comes back down to familiarity. Ryan Johnson has been in the Canucks organization since 2013, first as a player development consultant. Rutherford and the Sedin twins both worked with him extensively over the last few years, which may have given him the inside track. Therefore, it is just a matter of jockeying for position among the three.
Gold has an impressive resume, but if there is anything that we have learned throughout the Canucks’ hirings and even their player acquisitions, it is that people who have crossed paths with the team at some point are more highly sought out. From Jim Benning (Bruins AGM in 2011 when they beat Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Finals), to Trevor Linden (Canucks alumni), to Travis Green (Canucks AHL affiliate, Utica Comets head coach), this team has a history of this, and it should come as no surprise.
Of course, Gold may have been in contract negotiations, which may have fallen apart due to a lack of a long-term deal or compensation. Another reason could have been that Gold would not want to work under Johnson, if, say, they hired Johnson as the new team president and Gold the GM. A lot of moving parts at play here. It is unclear how much certainty we have in the roles, at this time. But we are definitely narrowing in on the people involved.
At the time of writing, it is still not clear what the Canucks’ front office structure will look like, but it looks like the Canucks will stick to internal promotions. What does that mean for the AGM positions? Will Jamie Langenbrunner still be in the mix for the job even if Gold is out? A lot of questions remain as this rather entertaining front-office search saga continues. Stay tuned for all the latest, as it happens, with us here at Last Word On Hockey.
