Ryan Johnson's Got Momentum and Vancouver's About to Hand Him the Keys to Their Hockey Ops

The Vancouver Canucks are about to make a massive move, and it sounds like Ryan Johnson is the guy they're zeroing in on. According to Elliotte Friedman on the Fan Hockey Show Tuesday, there's real momentum building behind the current assistant general manager to take over the head of hockey operations job, and it's happening fast.

"There's momentum going behind Ryan Johnson in Vancouver," Friedman said on air. "I've been hearing a lot about that over the last hour or two that the momentum is getting behind him, and we'll see where that takes us over the next few hours. But I'm starting to think that Ryan Johnson has a good shot at being the next head of hockey operations there."

From the Farm System to the Front Office

Johnson's not some outsider parachuting into this gig. The guy has been embedded in the Canucks organization since 2013, which means he's survived three different regime changes and knows exactly how this franchise operates. Most recently, he's been working as assistant general manager under Patrik Allvin, who was fired last month. Before that, he spent years building the organization's player development infrastructure as both a consultant and director of player development.

If you want proof that Johnson knows how to get results, look at what he just pulled off: he won a Calder Cup with the Abbotsford Canucks during the 2024-25 season as their general manager. That's not nothing. The guy can actually win.

A Massive Draft Class Is Waiting

Here's why this job matters so much right now. President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford is stepping down this summer, which means Johnson would be stepping into a huge opportunity. And the timing? Absolutely critical. The Canucks are selecting third overall in the 2026 NHL Draft. That's their highest pick since 1999. Whoever takes over hockey ops has to nail that selection, and Johnson, at 49 years old, now has the inside track to be the guy making that call.

This is a pivotal moment for the franchise, and if Friedman's read on the momentum is right, Johnson might be getting the job sooner rather than later.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.