With the Vancouver Canucks sitting at the bottom of the NHL standings, it’s only natural to start asking tough questions about the front office-starting with general manager Patrik Allvin. Four years into his tenure, the Canucks have just one playoff appearance to show for it.
They've cycled through three head coaches and moved on from cornerstone players like Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller.
It’s been a turbulent ride, and the pressure is mounting.
If Vancouver does decide to make a change at the top, one name already in the building stands out: Ryan Johnson.
But here’s the twist-he might not be available for long.
According to Elliotte Friedman on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast, Johnson is among a group of rising executives being considered for the Nashville Predators’ general manager position. While his name was part of a broader list that included both seasoned veterans and emerging front-office talent, the fact that he’s even in the conversation speaks volumes.
Friedman mentioned a wide range of potential candidates, from big names like Brendan Shanahan, Rob Blake, and Mark Bergevin, to newer faces like Ryan Martin, Evan Gold, Jamie Langenbrunner, and, yes, Ryan Johnson. It’s a who’s who of hockey minds, and Johnson is right in the mix.
Johnson’s rise has been steady, not flashy-but that’s often how the best executives come up. At 49, he’s the longest-serving executive left in the Canucks organization, having first joined during the Mike Gillis era.
He started in player development and methodically worked his way up to assistant general manager. Along the way, he’s built a reputation for having a sharp eye for talent and a steady hand in development.
One of Johnson’s most notable achievements? Helping guide the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup win last season.
That championship didn’t just bring hardware to the organization-it brought attention. Across the league, execs took notice, and it wasn’t long before Johnson’s name started surfacing in GM conversations.
Back in September, Rick Dhaliwal reported that Johnson was already drawing interest from other NHL teams.
It’s worth remembering: there are only 32 general manager jobs in the NHL. The competition is fierce, and the window of opportunity is small.
But Johnson has put himself in position. He’s done the work, climbed the ladder, and now the next logical step is to take the reins of a team.
The big question is whether that next opportunity will come in Vancouver-or if another franchise will beat them to the punch.