Overview
- Vancouver denied Nashville permission to speak with Ryan Johnson on Wednesday, according to reports from Rick Dhaliwal and The Athletic’s Thomas Drance.
- Johnson serves as an assistant GM with the Canucks and as GM of their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, and he is under contract and cannot interview elsewhere without team approval.
- Drance reported the decision reflects Vancouver’s interest in keeping Johnson in the mix to replace Patrik Allvin if the club chooses a new direction.
- Johnson has a strong track record running Vancouver’s AHL teams, including helping build a 2025 Calder Cup winner, and he is widely respected around the league.
- Nashville’s GM search remains active with several assistant GMs still in contention, and former Predators captain Tom Fitzgerald entered the conversation after his recent firing by New Jersey.