Hank and Danny will be passing off Franny so RJ can get some work done.

At least we hope so.

Canucks announcing today the Sedins are co-presidents of hockey ops. Ryan Johnson becomes the Canucks GM. The Vancouver Canucks.

Our thoughts...

jimmi:
This is great news! Or could be if the micro-managing owners can get out of the way for a few seasons... it's possible, isn't it?

When this regime change was announced, the 'braintrust' at Canucks HQ put us through extended hell as they searched for a new GM... names like Kevyn Adams and Pierre Dorion were dangled over us on the media guillotine. Then the final four became the final two. Some Bahstoon re-tread became a threat to our post-traumatic Boourn Benning hire.

Fortunately, not only was RJ selected - Thursday's pick all along - JR found his best successor. Two of them. We've rolled in the dirt of this management rodeo before. Former beloved Nuck, Trev, was President and it worked out well. Until he managed up to get fired after advocating a rebuild.

This time it could be different, as the Sedins are inheriting a rebuild that JR/PA managed to create. So... that's good. Although... Vern warns us about performative changes.

Since the Twins are among my fav Canucks players, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. With a long and patient pathway to prove their vision. Until November at least.

Thursday:

What seemed like the obvious choice ended up being the obvious choice. But we got a dog-and-pony show first, which was considerate of them. Ideally, the owners heard enough from other potential hires that they are now aware of just where this team is and how long it will take to correct.

There are a couple standout things from their presser that I liked. An awareness of the situation from Johnson was mandatory, and it seems like he has one. That he was given a three-year contract is worth thinking about, though. I want the owners to know three years from now is a waystation, not a destination. That's going to be on them if they decide otherwise. Frankly, I don't want to hear from the owners again until he's up for renewal.

The Sedins getting the top job this soon is a bit unexpected, but it was inevitable. That, I think, was where hiring them was ending up. As I mentioned last time, they have been very deliberate in their choice to join the team, saying from Day One they wanted to learn everything about the team. They've been spending the past five years doing that. If there's one thing I'm never going to doubt, it's the Sedins working hard at whatever's in front of them.

But it's good to have the negotiating side being handled by the guy who has been a general manager before, even if it was in the AHL. There is a lot to run on a pro team, and I didn't want to see one person - or even two, if it was the Sedins - getting the whole job.

What it isn't is a clean slate. These three have been with the organization for a long time, and have a lot of pride in their work. But you know what was a clean slate? Jim Rutherford, Patrik Allvin, and Rick Tocchet. I'm willing to see where this goes, including the firing (or not) of head coach Adam Foote.

Right now, we have three guys who are very proud to be part of the team. Theoretically, that will sink in through the rest of the system down to the players. That's going to be essential for what will be some hard years ahead. So long as management is open and honest with their players, that will help build the culture. Johnson saying very clearly that he knows what the future holds.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, however, reality has a way of creating whole new problems the theory didn't consider. We're just going to have to see what they do about it.