Canucks: Why Kevyn Adams is on GM list, why Shane Doan worth pursuing

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The Canucks are casting wide net to replace Patrik Allvin, and considering candidates for possilble bigger hockey operations re-structuring.

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Published Apr 22, 2026 • 4 minute read

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alt text Former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams will be one of many interviewed by the Vancouver Canucks to supplant the fired Patrik Allvin. Photo by George Walker Iv /APArticle content

We all have lists: Mostly the mundane job-jar stuff to keep the house in some sort of order.

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The Vancouver Canucks have multiple lists in the quest to find their next general manager and prop up a floundering last-place franchise committed to a roster rebuild. They need somebody to help clean up the mess.

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It’s why they have one hiring list for those who have sat in the GM hot seat, another for hopefuls on the cusp of advancing after AHL accomplishments and one for out-of-the-box thinkers with a sharp eye for how analytical data can drive a better future.

They will interview fired Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams and have permission to speak to Shane Doan, who acted in a special-advisory capacity with the Toronto Maple Leafs the past three years. What role he could assume in the Canucks organization is unclear at this point.

However, if president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford steps down after the NHL Draft, there would be further re-structuring of the hockey operations department from top to bottom. It’s another indication of why the Canucks are casting such a wide net.

Doan has great knowledge of the game, excelled as a player and captain, has experience with a roster rebuild in Arizona and is well respected among his NHL peers. The two-time Memorial Cup champion was also on the Canucks free-agency radar in 2012 during Mike Gillis’ tenure.

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They wined and dined the 35-year-old at the Italian Kitchen, but it was hard to imagine they would go north of the US$6.1 million salary cap hit for Henrik and Daniel Sedin. And they didn’t.

Sane Doan was a productive player and consummate captain in Arizona for 19 NHL seasons.

As for Adams, he made the first list even though he was let go in December. The Sabres stumbled to a 11-14-4 start, and then a team that looked better on paper than it was performing on the ice suddenly surged.

A remarkable 39-9-4 run led to capturing the Atlantic Division title for the first time sine 2007 and ending an NHL record 14-season playoff drought.

Was it the arrival of Jarmo Kekalainen from the Columbus Blue Jackets as new GM that lifted that dark, lingering franchise cloud? He has presence and patience. He didn’t instantly panic and retool the roster. He allowed players to settle down, gain confidence and composure as they finally found their footing.

Kekalainen then added roster depth at the NHL trade deadline in defencemen Luke Schenn and Logan Stanley, plus forwards Sam Carrick and Tanner Pearson.

What piqued the Canucks’ curiosity is Adams has his fingerprints on the current roster in a market that’s not a destination for players, which has also become the case in Vancouver. If Adams managed that, maybe he could help the Canucks climb out of the abyss?

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He also has a connection with Rutherford since playing for the GM on the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. And Rutherford values familiarity.

So what happened in Buffalo? Was it a widely reported lack of performance and connection with players, hockey operations, the media and even fans? They clamored for his dismissal, which has occurred here in the past, so that’s not overly shocking.

“He built a good roster over the summers, but froze during seasons when they struggled and he had to go,” said a source.

If Adams couldn’t handle criticism or the media in Buffalo, how is he going to excel in a Canadian market, especially one as passionate and knowledgeable as Vancouver? Former general managers have crumbled under that immense pressure before.

Alex Tuch of the Sabres scores on sprawling goaltender Thatcher Demko on Jan. 6 in Buffalo. The Sabres won 5-3. Photo by Joe Hrycych /Getty Images

Adams inherited little support when he became a first-time GM with the Sabres in June of 2020. Though he served as a Buffalo assistant coach, there was no past executive experience to lean on to navigate the coming storm.

Serving as senior vice president of business administration, director of The Academy of Hockey, and GM of ownership’s Harborcenter hotel, retail and practice rink complex wasn’t proper preparation.

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On his first day as GM, two assistant coaches were jettisoned along with the minor-league coaching staff. If that wasn’t bad enough, scouts and player-development coaches were also shown the door.

It helped Adams that the guy he replaced, Jason Botterill, was responsible for foundation pieces by drafting Rasmus Dahlin, Ukko-Pekka Lukkonen and Mattias Samuelsson, and trading for Tage Thompson, who exploded for 40 goals.

Adams made his mark by dealing Jack Eichel and a third-round pick to Vegas for Alex Tuch, Peyton Krebs, a first-round pick that tuned into Noah Ostlund and second-rounder that became Anton Wahlberg. Tuch has scored 30 or more goals in three of the last four seasons.

Adams also shipped Casey Mittelstadt to Colorado for Bowen Byram to help solidify a young back end.

Adams had mixed draft results it started with taking Jack Quinn eighth overall and JJ Peterka 34th in 2020. Peterka was traded to Utah for Josh Doan, who has excelled with 25 goals this season. That pick was followed by landing Owner Power first overall in 2021 and Isak Rosen 14th, but missing on Wyatt Johnston at No 23.

Adams also missed on Matt Savoie at ninth overall in 2022 and traded him to Edmonton, where he had 18 goals this season including a hat-trick against the Canucks. And drafting Ostlund 16h overall that same year has resulted in just 11 goals in 68 career games.

Zach Benson was selected 13th overall in 2023 and has but 34 goals in 211 career games.

bkuzma@postmedia.com

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Canucks: Why Kevyn Adams is on GM list, why Shane Doan worth pursuing

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