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The Vancouver Canucks move to dismiss Patrik Allvin wasn’t solely about the change itself, it was more about the team’s succession plan.
When the Vancouver Canucks fired Patrik Allvin, questions emerged about the timing of the move. There were plenty of other occasions in which the team could have made the move. For instance, the period last season following the disastrous J.T. Miller trade to the New York Rangers comes to mind.
The move had to happen at this point. And it wasn’t about the Canucks’ rebuild per se. It was more about the team’s succession plan.
That’s the point that insider Elliotte Friedman underscored in his 32 Thoughts Podcast from last Friday.
The discussion focused on how Canucks President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford could be getting closer to retirement. When that time comes, there will be a debate about who should take over that role.
And as Friedman pointed out, the plan is to have someone in place who can just take over. As things stood, Allvin wasn’t going to be the person to take over. That’s why the change had to happen.
It’s worth mentioning that Rutherford isn’t going away any time soon. It’s not like he’s going to retire tomorrow. But the organization needs to have a succession plan in place. They can’t afford to bring in a new President willy-nilly. They’ll need to have the assurance of knowing who’s going to take over.
Canucks’ Assistant GM Figures to Be Heir Apparent
One Canucks rumor that appeared tangentially was that the team denied permission for others to speak to Ryan Johnson.
Johnson is currently an assistant GM and GM of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. Johnson, like Abbotsford head coach Manny Malhotra, has gotten plenty of attention after they won the Calder Cup.
Malhotra was on the radar of several teams looking for a head coach. But the organization denied any requests to speak to him. The same thing happened with Johnson. Friedman reported that several teams, most notably the Nashville Predators, had requested permission to speak with Johnson.
The organization shot down any such requests as they view Johnson as the sort of executive who could be part of a long-term succession plan. As such, Johnson would get the GM role, while Rutherford continues on his path towards retirement.
By the time Rutherford is ready to hang them up, Johnson will be in line to take over the President’s role.
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Vancouver Reworked Johnson’s Contract to Keep Him Long Term
One other point that Friedman discussed was how the Canucks reworked Johnson’s contract to ensure he remained with the organization for the long haul.
That’s an interesting point to keep in mind. The organization doesn’t see Johnson as a middle manager. The Canucks see him as a significant part of their succession plan. So, if they allow other teams to speak to him, they risk losing him the way the Florida Panthers lost Sunny Mehta to the New Jersey Devils.
All told, the results on the ice certainly played a role in Patrik Allvin’s dismissal. But the fact of the matter is that there was a broader question at play. The organization made a call, and it seems it’s setting itself up for a long-term business plan.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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