The Predators had interest in discussing their general manager opening with Canucks assistant GM Ryan Johnson, but were denied permission by Vancouver, Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK reports. As Thomas Drance of The Athletic adds, that stems from a willingness to keep Johnson in the conversation as a promotion candidate to replace Patrik Allvinas the Canucks’ GM if they decide to move in a different direction.
Not to be confused with Sabres defense prospect Ryan Johnson, the Vancouver exec played over 700 NHL games as a center with the Panthers, Lightning, Blues, Canucks, and Blackhawks from 1997 to 2011. After retiring as a player with the Hawks, Johnson returned to B.C. as a development coach two years later. He’s remained in the organization ever since.
Johnson has seen a ladder of promotions over the years. In 2015, he was promoted to assistant director of player development. Two years later, he had the assistant dropped from his title and also took over as the GM of their AHL affiliate, a role he still holds today. The Canucks made him a special assistant to Allvin in 2022, then formalized him as one of Allvin’s assistants in 2024.
While the Canucks’ AHL farm in Abbotsford is wrapping up a season nearly as dreadful as their NHL parent’s, Johnson did help build them into a Calder Cup winner just last year. Since taking over as the minor-league GM (then affiliated with the Utica Comets) back in 2017, Vancouver’s AHL teams have amassed a record of 309-227-57 (.569) under Johnson.
As for Nashville, they still have several other candidates in the running to succeed Barry Trotz. Several other AGMs around the league are believed to be in contention, plus a new face in the equation after the Devils fired former Predators captain Tom Fitzgerald earlier this week.
If Ryan Johnson is learning the GM game from the incompetent Patrik Allvin then he isn’t the guy you want, Especially after Barry Trotz. Good lord!!!! But, way to continue to give former players a shot at positions that they are completely unqualified for.
” Johnson did help build them into a Calder Cup winner just last year” – look at that Abbotsford roster. They loaded up on older AHL guys that were just short of gaining veteran status rather than relying on prospects like most teams do. He only gets credit for gimmicking the system.
Well, they are in last place this year and will have NO playoffs. Maybe they should demote him full time back to Abbotsford.
Just a joke franchise; last thing the Canucks need is another rushed appointment for an unqualified GM – Rutherford, when named head of hockey operations, said he had authority to do a thorough search for Benning’s eventual replacement. That “thoroughness” resulted in him appointing his 3rd level flunky as GM… Johnson lives in Nashville & the Predators were likely doing him a solid by asking to talk to him. In no world but Aquillini’s is he deserving to be an NHL GM…