Evan Gold was close enough to the Vancouver Canucks’ GM chair to make the final days of the search feel like his job to lose. Instead, Vancouver went with Ryan Johnson, and Gold has now surfaced in a new place with a different kind of opportunity.
The New York Islanders announced Monday that they have hired Gold as assistant GM for the NHL club and GM of their AHL team, the Hamilton Hammers. He’ll join Mathieu Darche’s hockey operations staff and work across all areas of the organization.
“Evan brings a rare combination of experience, intelligence, and results to our Hockey Operations department,” said Islanders GM Mathieu Darche in a release. “Over the past several years, he has excelled in nearly every facet of building a successful franchise at the NHL and AHL levels - from contract negotiations and cap management to leading the Providence Bruins to the best record in the AHL this past season.
“His background, combined with his legal and business acumen, makes him an outstanding fit for our department as we continue building a team that competes on the island and in Hamilton.”
The move gives Gold a new home after seven years as an assistant GM with the Boston Bruins, a run that was not expected to continue into the upcoming season. The 46-year-old still won’t be stepping into an NHL GM role, but he does land in a front office that already includes Darche, Chris Lamoriello, Steve Pellegrini, and Ryan Bowness.
His biggest day-to-day responsibilities appear to be tied to the Islanders’ AHL side, which is beginning its first season in Hamilton after relocating there this past summer.
“My family and I could not be more excited to be joining the Islanders organization,” Gold said in a release. “I am incredibly grateful to Mathieu and the entire Islanders ownership group for the opportunity to be part of such a respected franchise and to help build a Stanley Cup champion on Long Island.
“The Islanders have a rich history, a passionate fan base, and a deep connection to the community. It is an honor to join this organization, and I look forward to working alongside Mathieu, our players, coaches, and staff to build a team that our fans can be proud of for years to come.”
Gold’s only other NHL stop came with Boston, where he entered the league during the 2015-16 season. Long Island also keeps him relatively close to his old base in Boston, a four-hour drive away, and the Islanders are scheduled to face the Bruins three times this season.
For the Canucks, the choice to go with Johnson over Gold is one that will linger. Vancouver is pressing ahead with its rebuild and trying to turn itself back into a contender over the next few seasons.
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There is no simple answer on the roster side, either. Vancouver can keep Cootes in the NHL or send him to its AHL affiliate, and if he stays up, he is the kind of player who starts pushing for a meaningful role rather than merely filling out the bottom of the lineup. That kind of choice has ripple effects, especially for players like Aatu Rty and Filip Chytil, and it is already turning Cootes into one of the more interesting lineup questions on the Canucks' radar. [Read more 🡒]