Come For The Banter - Stay For The Disappointment
Nucks Fan Rebuild & Retool Center - Come For The Banter - Stay For The Disappointment
The Vancouver Canucks didn't win first overall, as you may have heard. They didn't even finish second, with two teams taking their place on the board ahead of them. But what they have is still very, very interesting. We have a month to go, and a lot of screen space to fill between now and then. Fortunately, this is the Canucks we're talking about. We never know when this team will set its own hair on fire.
Here's our best guess at what they're thinking, and how they should be thinking, about this year's draft class.
Marshmallows at the ready.
The talk around this season's draft has been how weak it is. Gavin McKenna has been a runaway favourite for the past five years, but otherwise, 2026 lacked star power. No one's projected to be a regular 40-goal scorer or an All-Star defender. Goaltending is pretty much its own category, teams knowing they should draft one without knowing when. As the saying goes, Once Bitten, Once More Bitten.
If there's a single maxim that teams, scouts, and fans repeat to themselves and each other, it's this: Best Player Available. Nothing else matters. If the best player available happens to be in the position your team is strongest, well, that's irritating, but not fatal. Even teams built through the draft usually have just a handful of their own picks on them. The rest have been acquired through free agent signings or trades, and you can only make trades if you have something worth trading.
But it's not a maxim that sticks through every round. By the time the picks reach triple digits, anyone making it is an extreme long shot anyhow. Why not take three left-side defencemen, just to see who gets through? Look for the kids with a single NHL-possible trait, and see if the rest comes along with time and training.
The risk in a modest draft year is that some positions suddenly look better than they are. Rarity brings value, earned or not. You can probably see where we're going with this.
Caleb Malhotra looks like a solid, NHL-bound player. Every report about his character is exemplary. The work he's put in has shown on the ice, and his draft position has skyrocketed this season. And if either Ivar Stenberg or Gavin McKenna is available, the Canucks shouldn't draft him.
I want to be absolutely clear on this: scouts love Malhotra, and he justifies the affection. If he does get drafted by Vancouver, there's going to be a lot of thinkpieces referencing Bo Horvat. Horvat is an excellent second-line centre and a low-end first-line one. Is that what you spend the third overall pick on? If a team is picking Malhotra because he is the best centre available - a debated argument - then you're picking for position, not best player available.
In a draft year very strong in centres, Horvat was the fifth one chosen. Picking a different position because you are chock-full of centres is how you get Seth Jones, Rasmus Ristolainen, or Darnell Nurse instead. Perfectly good defencemen, but I'd rather have the fifth-highest rated centre that year.
Similarly, Malhotra could very well be the best centre from 2026. And there could be a half-dozen defencemen you'd rather have instead.
Here's the thing: if the team is absolutely set on getting Malhotra, I won't cry too much about it. It looks like he's going to be a fine player, and I look forward to him being in the league. That goes double if he's in a Canucks jersey. But if they pass over Stenberg to draft him, we're going to have words.
Now, the odds are against that possibility, as it looks like there is a definite tier separating the two. But, as we've all seen, drafts don't always go as scripted. San Jose doesn't strictly need another forward, and maybe they're happy to drift back a little to take their chances while picking up some extra talent. But a team moving up to second overall isn't likely doing it for Malhotra. They should be going after Stenberg, leaving Vancouver in the same position if San Jose doesn't move.
Maybe whoever's in that second slot is convinced Chase Reid is their guy. Beautiful! Stenberg, it is, thanks for coming, we'll see you in another twenty picks or so. And if there's a team that is certain Reid (or whomever) is their One and Only, then pick up the phone. I'm perfectly happy to drop a half-dozen spots for a first-rounder next year, even if it's top-10 protected. There are a lot of defenders I like this year, and I'd be perfectly happy to get any of a half-dozen of them. If all of them happen to get taken, well, okay, I guess we'll have to make do with Malhotra after all. Plus the extra draft capital in 2027.
Yes, I like Liam Ruck and his twin, Markus Ruck. They're a fine story, and twins obviously have resonance in Vancouver. I also think 24th is probably too high to draft either of them, especially with nine spots to go between picks. Unless someone pulls off the Brian Burke back-to-back picks, can you imagine how many teams are going to call after the first brother goes?
Yes, any other team that drafts Markus will be the Villain of the Day, and the media will talk of little else but potential trades for the rest of their careers. But why would you expect them not to draft someone on their board? Kindness? It hurts to say, but if any team manages to pull off getting them together, it'll be Calgary. They have two first-round picks and four in the second, so if they really want to move up, they have the ammo to do so.
Awesome though it would be to start the Sedin's presidential tenure by drafting twins, they can't afford to spend future assets to do so. Unless they're really, REALLY sure about them being NHL players. Then yeah, give us the storyline, baby!
What would we get if I got what I wanted? The absolutely perfect first two rounds? I mean, the scenarios listed would be pretty great, but you can't simply assume teams will be fools. I'd love to see either of the top two fall into Vancouver's lap, but that's probably not going to happen.
I'd like to drop down and pick up a 2027 pick and, say, Keaton Verhoff. Then, there has been a fair bit of movement - usually with players coming up with little mention of those falling. In my dream world, Ryan Lin continues to move down the boards (sorry, Ryan!) until the Canucks can take him. If not, there is a small pile of centres around 24th that are worth consideration - Alexander Command, Maddox Dagenais, Yegor Shilov. It gets a bit blurry quickly this year.
Past that? Getting the Ruck twins would be hilarious. But if not, I'm all for getting defenceman Ben Macbeath with the 41st pick. Sure, he has talent, but the real reason is that I'm a total theatre nerd and I'm trying to picture the broadcasters not saying his name in the arena.
"That guy doesn't deserve to wear the crest."
-One of the Sedins, according to Rachel Kryshak, when she appeared on Sekeres & Price earlier today
Now, Ms. Kryshak deliberately didn't say which Sedin it was, but does that distinction matter? It's not just splitting hairs; it's arguing the difference between orange juice and the juice you get from oranges.
If we're talking about coaches, why am I bringing up the twins being annoyed about a current player? Because of some criticism the team has received about hiring them. Specifically, the belief that hiring someone already close to the team doesn't change enough of the management level of the team. It's not a bad criticism, frankly. The team still needs to flesh out the administration and will bring in "outside people" anyway, so it's not as bad as people think.
But the biggest advantage that the trio of Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin, and Ryan Johnson bring is pride. They don't WANT the team to be a comfort zone for aging players. They don't want people with weak character anywhere near their room. And now they are empowered to do something about it. Whatever frustration, irritation, or even anger they've felt about their team, they can now act on.
Just imagine how satisfying that must be. Ask anyone in Vancouver what they would do if they were running the Canucks, and odds are you'll get an answer. Or six, depending on how long they've been a fan.
Can we just cut to the chase and stick Manny Malhotra behind the bench, already? No? Okay, he could say no to the offer and see who else is interested out there. Despite the season Abbotsford had last year, he's still highly thought of around the league. He probably wouldn't be interested in taking an NHL assistant's job again. Doing that twice starts managers thinking of you as a perpetual assistant, not a head coach.
If he doesn't outright refuse the job, he's a solid bet to be there next season. It was hilarious hearing Johnson say they haven't hired Malhotra, but if you want to know what they're looking for in a coach, it's Malhotra. They aren't even calling it a "search" but a "process" to find their next coach.
The coach - whoever it is, wink wink - will need to work well with young players. Development of players, wherever they've been drafted, is arguably the most important factor in returning to relevance. Everyone needs to be coached, the young players the most. So, a coach who has worked with players trying to break into the league, who has given them a chance to find their game, would be best.
They're also going to need the patience of Job. Young players make mistakes, and this team won't have the talent to cover up for them. Yes, there will be some veterans, but that's not the point of having a young team. The coach needs to be ready to put those players back on the ice. Too many mistakes and it could mean a scratch later, but that's a conversation for after the game.
Speaking of mistakes: one of the maxims now-former coach Adam Foote liked was not compounding mistakes. If you make a mistake on a play, fine, those happen. But you'd better do the right thing next. That's the right idea, but too often the players would make a mistake, then not know what the "right thing next" was.
The systems the next coach brings will have to be communicated clearly and cleanly, so those skills are vital. They should be quickly explained to newcomers who are, say, filling in for players who have suddenly left the team.
And finally, it wouldn't hurt if the coach they bring in has experience with the city. They don't need playing experience specifically, but some idea of what happens in a town of two million coach/GMs. Now, if he does just happen to have a thousand NHL games under his belt, building a 16-year career despite a severe injury, and has seen the best and worst in the league? That's probably a mark in his favour, too. And if other players described him as a general on the ice, directing players when he was out there, that's not bad, either.
Folks, it's Manny. Just hire him already. There's a LOT more to do this offseason, even after the draft. Get this easy one out of the way and move on to the rest while you're on a roll.
"Foote gets the boot as the Canucks take a step forward."
- Petrishriekandgo on Bluesky
RJ made his first 'tough call' today by firing Adam Foote. We knew that he knew that it had to happen as there was no point keeping the Traitor Hughes pick for coach behind the bench. Foote wasn't the sole reason Nucks stinky season stank like month-old hockey socks, however he did Footey his way to successful tank commander. We tank him for his excruciating-to-watch 82 games of service. Also the associate tank drivers, Scott Young, Kevin Dean and Brett McLean have been relieved of service.
Foote was tripped up early in the season by the Faeries who kicked the Canucks square in the Nucks. By December with what's-his-name getting traded, there was no way the team could be retreaded in time for a playoff run, despite Foote giving Kane prime minutes all the freaking time. We're not putting our Foote down. That was Ryan's job.
Despite being 'right there' game after game, Foote's overarching strategy was to overplay the vets - especially Kane - at the expense of the youngins. Kane got the most 5v5 minutes - even after the basement rent had been paid. Karlsson, Nucks best 5v5 player, was ranked 17th for TOI. As a rookie NHL coach, Foote heeled it. And the rookies paid for it.
Flat-Footed Defense System
So obtuse and incomprehensible were the Footenotes, no amount of Footesplaining could convey the D-process to fans and worse to pro hockey players. Nucks PK finished last in the NHL at 71.5% — the second-worst penalty killing percentage in franchise history and the tenth-worst in the NHL ever. D-zone got off on the wrong Foote and couldn't step up until late in the season. After the team purged some more toxins from the locker room, Canucks exchanged the fancy Footework for better self-coached defense.
Adam's Footeprint will linger on with us whenever the Nucks pull the goalie late in the 3rd and give up a Footey. Or two.
Here's how secure Nucks coaching position has been since 2021:
Now going for the 5th coach in 5 years. In reality only the 2nd or 3rd. Bruce replaced Green, but JR couldn't abide the guy who scored his 1st NHL goal on him - so hired TraitorToc who went off the rails to Philly, getting a Foote in the door.
For a couple more years, Franny has to Foote the bill for another couch coach. Good thing Franny doesn't know how many unpaid couch coaches NM employs deploys. Doesn't matter.
What matters is...
THE NEXT COACH
Will it be Manny Malhotra or Torts or Berube or Bruce - our Bruce or the other Bruce no one can talk to or Manny Malhotra?
As RJ said to day: “It’s hard to be ignorant of an internal candidate that we obviously have, so I’m not going to deflect that Manny has shown his ability to develop young players, to build a connection, and obviously win a championship with a very young group... I won’t be ignorant to the fact that I am going to speak with him, sit down with him, and talk about the future.”
Canucks new braintrust will cast the coach net wide and then select... Manny.
While we're not hoping Foote feels defeeted, even if we were month after month, he proved to be a terrible coach for young player development and old fan engagement. That game is no longer aFoote.
Not to sound too greedy, but I want more.
Don't get me wrong, now. I liked a whole lot of what was said at last week's presser. The owner said "rebuild" out loud; the general manager talked about growing capable players within the system; the president(s) said the fastest way to build is to take it slow. All of that was stuff I wanted to hear. Add to that the awareness of a growing disconnect between the team and the fans and plans to remedy it, and I can say everyone hit this out of the park.
Just in saying this stuff, they've earned some grace. They're all new at the job, and we know there are going to be mistakes along the way. That happens. But if they can keep their focus, at least those mistakes won't be of the 'shortcut' variety we've been plagued with for 15 seasons.
So, that all was great and congratulations and all that. Now for more.
In more or less chronological order, we present our list of demands.
I think this is going to have to start with the coach. I do think Adam Foote was shafted partway through the season because his job description changed so dramatically. The expectation was that he would get the team to the playoffs, and in such a way that Quinn Hughes would agree to a long-term extension. It was a terrible idea, as Hughes had little intention of returning, according to Jim Rutherford.
Still, Foote put into place a system that relied on defensive breakouts, puck possession in the attacking zone, and risking counterattacks for goals. That got the defence involved - Vancouver's strength, way back when - and made Hughes the centre of the system. It, ah... It didn't work. It's tough to say if the players couldn't execute because there was a lack of communication or comprehension, but it was one of them. The team was awful in their own end, seeming to lack any understanding of who should be where or which player covers whom.
It did improve somewhat after the Hughes trade and after the team accepted their fate, but not by much. Foote tried for a more conservative approach, and all that did was limit scoring chances. The Canucks still ended the year as the worst team in the league by a mile. Maybe he'll do better with another shot, but I'm not all that eager to see it. Thank him for his work and move on.
Everyone wants to know about a practice rink, and the instant the question was asked, Henrik fielded it. If you need to hear about the advantages of having these two as co-presidents, there it is. If Daniel can work on the interior issues while Henrik does external ones, that's a sale to me. No one's going to doubt their ability to communicate with each other, after all.
But we also want to see what shape "being proud to be a Canucks fan" will take. They already have good programs going, though attention to them has faded slightly. More of a push for amateur hockey, perhaps? It'll be interesting to see what comes up.
There's a lot of speculation about who Vancouver should take at three. That's going to depend entirely on who's available, as far as I'm concerned. If either Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg is still there, it's a no-brainer. Grab 'em and run. If not, then there are still plenty of fine choices...and most of them are defencemen.
The calls for Caleb Malhotra haven't diminished with the phenomenal playoff run he's had. But he is still most likely going to peak at a middle-six centre. A very good one, a bit in the Bo Horvat mould, but is that who you spend a third-overall pick on? Grab one of a handful of defencemen who project to be top-pair - I like Keaton Verhoff, but there are plenty of others - and plan your next move. Or if a team makes a big offer, maybe drop a few spots and get one there.
A LOAD of centres are appearing at the top of 2027's draft, and waiting an extra year for one won't hurt. And no, I'm not concerned about Manny Malhotra - if that's the coach they go with - will be coaching his son. I think talk of it being an issue is overblown. These aren't teenagers out there.
Speaking of the next move, I'd be delighted if the team took the Ruck twins with their two second-round picks. That's about the right amount of risk for them, I think. If another team wants to use a first on Liam, let them. There are other players to take bigger swings on.
Oh, and one more thing: NONE OF THIS YEAR'S PICKS IN THE NHL, THANKS!
There's actually a hidden benefit of getting three players in return for Hughes that's going unmentioned. With a team in disarray - and it most certainly was - they weren't in it alone. They all knew each other before getting dropped into the mess, so they didn't get isolated. Every workplace has cliques, and going to a new place can make people a bit tentative, especially if you're as young as these guys.
Obviously, you want players to like each other, or at least respect each other. Part of that will include the work events done outside the rink, but making absolutely clear that the only players staying are the ones who want to is vital. If this is just a paycheque, let us know, and we'll get you somewhere else. Likewise, anyone not interested in being part of a rebuild, with all that entails. Who will stay and who will go has to include that consideration.
About the elephant: I think the team should keep Elias Pettersson the Forward. Yeah, there's an entire article of its own in that, but the long and short of it is that the team will not be able to replace his talent. Losing him for nothing, which is what it will be if there's a trade without retention, is an incredible waste. Cap space isn't all that relevant over the next few years, even if the team can convince someone to sell them a bad contract. The Canucks have approximately $21 million in cap space for next season, and that's with 22 "active players" signed.
I think Brock Boeser is a keeper, too, at least for now. I can't think of a calmer, more laid-back player to have in the room who can also score you 30 goals. Right now, both of those are a pretty big deal. Filip Hronek has been taking a lead role out on the ice as well, and that is valuable. I'd like to see him start splitting time on the first power play point with Zeev Buium as he grows into his game. Hronek's going to have value for years.
If we accept that the team is in a transition period, then players need to be looked at holistically. None of them needs to stay for the entire length of their deals, but this year? Let's ease into this thing. If a team makes an offer for one of these vets that you can't say no to, don't say no. But maybe shop them next year instead of this one.
We'll talk more about it later, because we have a lot of time between now and October. Basically, what I don't want to see is the team become a dumping ground, à la the Chicago Blackhawks. I don't want to see a bunch of 30-point, 30-something forwards out there for the next five seasons. I want to see the young guys getting their shot, being allowed to make mistakes, and sometimes not making it. I want to see coaches interested in developing players into a coherent team. I want to see the players happy to go out in the city and take part in what's here.
I don't want to love this team despite what they give us. I actually want to like them, too. It's been a while. Let's get that back.
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.
The Vancouver Canucks would like us to treat the management structure announcement like a superhero movie and just … believe. In the same way you think some Aussie in Spandex lifting a silver-painted Styrofoam prop is actually a Norse god heaving a mythical giant-smacker nobody else on the planet – or in Asgaard – can lift, we are supposed to believe that Ryan Johnson and the legendary duo of Daniel and Henrik Sedin will now solve all of the Vancouver Canucks problems.
Huzzah. Plan the parade.
Sufficient belief will help smooth over the many questions that don’t have ready answers. Sure, the Sedins are wonderful people. But since 2021, the twins have been in some way involved in the trainwreck that used to be a respectable NHL franchise, which raises ugly questions.
Please, believe the Sedins will be great executives off the ice just because they were sensational on it. Kindly overlook the problem with that assumption, which is - it's wrong. If on-ice excellence translated into other aspects of the game, Wayne Gretzky’s name would be plastered all over the Jack Adams trophy as NHL coach of the year.
The problem with the Sedin promotion is obvious: it appears gimmicky. It appears performative. It’s not the first time the Canucks have played the returning-hero card after all, and in the past, it hasn’t worked out. But believe that this time - this time - it will be different.
Likewise, believe with your heart that while Jim Ruthorford and Patrick Allvin were on the helm of the good ship HMS Vancouver Canucks, Johnson had nothing to do with any of their Exxon Valdez-level foulups despite standing beside them on the bridge for the last two years. That means, his fingers are on the re-signing of perpetually broken netminder Thatcher Demko, the bonehead re-signing of Brock Boeser, the Conor Garland contract extension, the Pierre-Oliver Joseph failure, the Vasili Podkolzin trade, the decision to burn a first-round draft pick for Marcus Pettersson, and the daft trade for Evander Kane.
Likewise, you should believe Johnson had no power to influence a workplace environment that became so toxic the most exciting player in Canucks history not named Bure wanted out, and that after J.T. Miller tore the dressing room to bits. Maybe, just maybe, one can believe Johnson is innocent here.
Heck, let’s just assume that.
But doing so risks more of those pesky, inconvenient questions, or in this case a logical conundrum:
Alternately, you could just believe that in the same way a spindly kid bitten by a radioactive spider will gain the power to climb walls, Johnson ate contaminated artisanal Tilset from Granville Market, and after a day-long fever, emerged with altered brain chemistry and a newfound power to solve the same mess he witnessed (if not helped) create.
Now that you’ve opened up a separate browser tab to search “Tilset” and have verified it is, indeed, a soft yellow-white cheese with Swiss origins, please watch that Youtube video of “the shift,” and while delighting in the dulcet tones of Jim Hughson hold on to all that feel-good for as long as you can. That will help you overlook the niggling fact that after exhaustive weeks of interviewing the greatest available hockey minds in the business (as well as Pierre Dorion) in search of the candidates to revitalize the Canucks, the Aquilini ownership and Rutherford are shocked – shocked, I say – to discover the best solution to all the team’s problems was right in front of their noses, all along.
Golly-gee whiz, would you believe that?
If you do, I’ve got a legendary Norse warhammer to sell you. Send several thousand dollars for shipping, the blasted thing is heavy.
The tone around the Vancouver Canucks has been changing.
Go back to the end of the season, and the news was that general manager Patrik Allvin had been removed. It was...odd, given that the coaching staff remained in place. The excuse at the time was that the new general manager, whoever that might be, should make their own decision. Rational enough. So, presumably, the GM would be named quickly to see who is where and what plans need to be made. Right?
Eh, not exactly, but close enough.
The thing about figing Allvin is that we aren't completely sure what decisions he may or may not have made with the team. The weird, two-headed ettin at the top of the Canucks' administrative food chain left those who observed it a little confused. And those who had to interact with it more so. There are reports of other teams not knowing who they were dealing with for trade proposals. That broke containment when Jim Rutherford announced he had taken the Quinn Hughes trade "off Allvin's plate," as if that were a favour to him rather than an elbowing aside.
Vern put up a post about how this particular group has treated its employees, and it's hard not to agree. It'll come up again when we get around to talking about Elias Pettersson the Forward*, but it's correct to point to Ryan Johnson getting jerked around recently. He was recently given a new contract with Vancouver because of the job he's done in Abbotsford. He has been the heir apparent for a few years now. And yet.
Johnson was not only given an expensive new deal, but was also stopped from interviewing with the Nashville Predators. They are apparently living up to their mascot's image by waiting patiently for the right moment to pounce. It's been literal months without any apparent movement down there. Most likely guess is they have someone in mind, but that person is still involved in league play. Or they're still under contract...
Johnson brought the Canucks their only league-wide trophy of any kind, winning the AHL's Calder Cup in 2025. The team has been generally competitive, though all minor teams rely heavily on their parent clubs getting the draft right, signing good free agents, and not needing 50 skaters and five goalies in any given season. For many, the assumption was that Johnson and coach Manny Malhotra would step up to the NHL level at the next opportunity. That hasn't happened yet, and why not is a bit of a mystery.
There is one rival remaining for the position, and that's Evan Gold. Currently with the Boston Bruins, Gold is known as a "power behind the throne" kind of guy. Not that he's a potential assassin or any such, of course. I think. I'm not going to pretend I know a lot about him, so perhaps murder is a pastime of his. But probably not. He is very well thought of by other people in the business, though. By all accounts, he would be a fine choice.
Rutherford likes Ryan Johnson for the job. But Rutherford has also said he is essentially leaving the club while holding a nominal position with a full paycheque. Moving back to Carolina is quite the work-from-home power move, but how much influence will he have? If the team only hires one replacement, it probably won't be the one the guy they just ghosted likes.
As an added bit of weirdness, it sounds like the Sedins might be getting a... promotion? Henrik and Daniel Sedin have been around the team in various positions, most recently in player development. If you've watched any practices, you've likely seen them working with young players, with veterans, with anyone who wanted to take advantage of their experience.
They were hired five years ago, and made one thing clear: they wanted to learn everything about the team. This isn't going to be a Mats Sundin situation, where he has lived in Sweden for several years and will likely need to get brought up to speed in Toronto. What power Sundin will have with the Leafs is unclear, as he and John Chayka were announced at the same time.
The Sedins have planned their move into the Canucks organization very carefully and deliberately. They control everything about how they get promoted, and both have made it clear they will quite happily walk away if they have to. If they feel like they are ready to assume a new job, they will.
Funny story: apparently, they also like Ryan Johnson for the next general manager. So that's something to consider.
Neither of the Sedins will be named general manager, and they probably don't want that job just yet. Wherever they do end up, it's hard to picture them away from the ice and the players asking for their advice. It certainly wouldn't hurt for them to have better-defined duties among the white-collars, though. Who knows what that will be, though.
With Rutherford fading out, Allvin gone(?), the Sedins ambiguously promoted, and the coaching staff on tenterhooks, getting some answers would be handy. The draft is coming up, and the team needs to have a plan in place soon. Either Johnson or Gold can head the team up, but they need to know who the team is, first.
Oh, did you notice that question mark? Patrik Allvin has been offered a new spot with the Canucks, according to Donnie and Dhali recently. He has a tremendous amount of scouting experience, and let's face it, another general manager position is unlikely for a few years yet. No one knows how much credit/blame to give him for his tenure with Vancouver. And the paycheque is great. It would be weird, but maybe he will still be in the "About Us" section of the Canucks website.
Rumours are circulating of a complete overhaul of the scouting department, so maybe he'll end up there. Assuming he even wants to be with the team, being on the road for most of the year can soften the blow of losing his previous job. And add to the unending weirdness that is the Vancouver Canucks.
But why the heck are we hearing that Dax Aquilini is sitting in on the GM interviews...?
*Oooo, foreshadowing!
My gracious. Just when you think the Vancouver Canucks might actually do something new, strange and unexpected - that is, demonstrate competence - they return to their ways.
It's now been reported that the bumbling franchise has told Assistant GM Ryan Johnson that he's not permitted to interview with other teams.
This just screams blundering stupidity. It screams of the very low-class, bumbling incompetence that has marked this team for a decade.
The Bruce Boudreau fiasco was typical of the poor way this team treats its employees. Everyone and their dog knew that Boudreau was being fired. But the team let Boudreau hang in the wind for a few games, which was both malicious and undeserved. It screamed "this team gives no shits about its employees."
Listening to the gurgling in the Vancouver Canucks media spin cycle, it was more than apparent that someone in the organization thought Pierre Dorion was a capable GM, despite the overwhelming abundance of evidence to the contrary.
Oh, but hey - look the other way, would you? The team is elevating the Sedin twins to some greater, yet named, yet known job. We need only remember how the team treated Trevor Linden to remember how well the last Canucks-legend-given-job gig worked out. Linden somehow managed to leave the team with his reputation intact - although his back bore heavy scars from the Aquilini knife thrust.
And really, when you look at the horrible crap that the team has visited upon its staff, from Linden to Boudreau, to telling the NHL that the team would exercise its option on Rick Tocchett - remember that - and now blocking an employee from potential advancement with another franchise, this team is a dumpster fire and every trickle of combustible fluid traces back to a wretched ownership group.
Until that changes, the blaze will continue. The franchise is hot trash, everybody knows it, and no grand hire (or performative promotion of the Sedins) is going to change that.
The Hockey Gods looked upon Vancouver and said: Meh.
Vancouver had the best chance of falling to third overall in the draft lottery, and the odds didn't disappoint. The Canucks have lost a LOT of draft positions over the past decade.
2013-15: No position change in three drafts
2016: Dropped two spots, picked 5th
2017: Dropped three spots, picked 5th
2018: Dropped one spot, picked 7th
2019: Dropped one spot, picked 10th
2020-21: No first-round pick, so who cares? We're FINE!
2022: No change, picked 15th
2023: No change, picked 11th
2024: First-round picks are for the weak. So are second-round picks.
2025: No change, but Utah, who finished in 14th to Vancouver's 15th, won and moved up to fourth.
2026: Dropped two spots, because it's been a while. Any chance we can get that whole "finishing last in the league by a wide margin" thing back?
So, yeah. We had a 55% chance of watching the team drop, and they did. Which sucks, but is still a third-overall draft position. That ain't a bad thing at all.
First things first, and Jim Rutherford announced after the lottery that he would be stepping away from his position. The President of Hockey Operations is keeping his title until after the draft proper happens in June. That gives the team plenty of time to fill at least one executive position, getting a general manager in place early enough to navigate the entry draft. There is still someone here to answer questions and maintain consistency among the white-collars.
That in itself isn't "good news" exactly, but it does show that they have a direction in mind. That part's good, anyway. And it makes the hiring of two people more likely, which I like. Splitting duties as the game gets more complex isn't a bad thing at all. Though perhaps give Dorion a miss for either spot, thanks.
Without getting into the players themselves, let's talk about why getting third this season is good news. And don't forget, the two teams that jumped ahead of Vancouver may well leave either McKenna or Stenberg available at third. The easiest pick could once again fall into the Canucks' lap through no effort of their own. If not, well, there are a half-dozen players I'd be more than happy to get, for a price. Seattle or Calgary want to toss in a pick in the 20s to get the guy they want? Does Winnipeg feel optimistic about its position next year? Let's talk 2027!
Personally, I don't want ANY of the players Vancouver takes this year to appear in the NHL. Training camp, sure, but not in the league. The Canucks are going to be a difficult team to win with, make no mistake. The fans have a long year ahead of them, and so do the players.
There are two possible results if they push their pick into the league this season, and neither one is what you want. The player could have a great year, helping them enough to worsen their draft position. Lovely, but that's not really what Vancouver needs. Or, of course, he doesn't, and you have an 18-year-old getting dragged by his hair through another bottom-ranked season. I can wait a year.
No one wants to work. I don't mean that as an indictment of The Youth Today, though I am the correct demographic. I mean that, literally, no one wants to work. That's why we call it work. You can enjoy what you do, that's fine, but it would be an ideal world where you could choose how much you did and when you did it. Right? Right. Hockey managers are no different.
When a bad team gets the first overall choice, and if they play really, really well, there is temptation. Say Vancouver gets McKenna, well, then what? Even if he blows the doors off, massively outperforming expectations, he might get 60 points for the season. Given the weakness of the division, that might even put them within striking distance of a playoff spot a week before the trade deadline. Hey, imagine if this kid had just a little more help...
That impulse needs to be snuffed out immediately. That little spark of hope can't be allowed to grow, not yet. Vancouver needs to be in this for the long haul, and that doesn't mean one or two bad seasons. We, the fans, will have plenty of young players to watch out there. Adding this year's pick is a bit of overkill.
Finishing third, there's no pretending that "We can do it quickly!" or "Go for it!" Put the chip-clip on the lips and grow some patience.
One top-three pick is great, don't get me wrong. But another would be even better, especially if a couple top-ten picks follow soon after.
Vancouver is going to get better. Probably. It's going to be tough to avoid, though talent alone isn't enough to win the Stanley Cup. Besides, the Canucks have finished in the mid-twenties often enough that it feels like home. Getting picks in the teens and watching those guys pass or fail is part of the fun of a rebuilding team. But it's so much better when you draft in the teens and don't put the weight of the world on them.
Fans are talking about Braeden Cootes and his potential to be a first-line centre, and that's lunatic. If he gets there, that's awesome! But to expect him to get there, or even to hope that he does, is ridiculous. He looks like a solid, middle-six player at centre or wing, and that's great. Teams need those. It'll be better when we draft a kid in that mid-teens position and add him to a pool that has three top-ten picks already working their way through the system.
Okay, call me greedy, but there's a lot more to talk about with the Canucks picking third than if they finished in the top two. If they won either lottery, then the choice is obvious. Pick McKenna or Stenberg, whichever is available. Finishing with the third, though? Now it gets interesting!
They could pick any of a few defencemen in a draft that's very good for them. There are a couple centres in the mix, and the team might stretch to grab one of them. Or - least likely but most fun to consider - they might successfully trade down and still get a solid prospect while adding another pick.
Hey, there are 50 days to go before the actual draft. We'll take what we can get!
NHL Entry Draft - May 5, 2026
Are you ready for #3?
Join our almost live coverage of another draft where the Nucks almost pick first!
Your or their Vancouver Canucks pick:
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As designed, Canucks pick 3rd. NHL lotto luck goes to CoTU and SJ. Because... reasons.
