The Vancouver Canucks solidified their upper management group on Tuesday, signing executives Cammi Granato, Émilie Castonguay, and Ryan Johnson to contract extensions.
The club also promoted Johnson to the position of assistant general manager, joining both Granato and Castonguay with that title. Johnson will remain general manager of the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League, a title he has held since 2017, when the team was still located in Utica, NY.
“RJ has been an invaluable resource for me and the entire front office,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement on Tuesday. “Not only has he done an excellent job in running our American Hockey League affiliate in Abbotsford, but he has also done a lot of great work on the hockey operations side. His player assessment and insightful advice has been a key driver for our improvement at both the AHL and NHL level.”
Granato and Castonguay both joined the Canucks organization in 2022. Castonguay became the first woman to serve as an assistant general manager in the NHL when the Canucks hired her in January of that year; Granato’s arrival followed shortly thereafter.
“Solidifying our hockey operations team was a key priority for me after I signed my extension,” Allvin said. “Cammi and Emilie fit in nicely with the group and I look forward to working with them and continuing our partnership moving forward. Having a strong, intelligent and diverse leadership team sets us up nicely for future success.”
It’s certainly understandable that the Canucks would want to reward their upper management staff in the midst of such a strong season for the team. The Canucks are on track to return to the playoffs this year for only the second time since 2015.
Through 66 games this season, the Canucks currently lead the Pacific Division with a 42-17-7 record and 91 points. They’re currently tied with the Boston Bruins for second place in the entire National Hockey League.
The Canucks will go for win No. 43 on the year when they return to action on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. PT to take on the Colorado Avalanche at Rogers Arena in Vancouver.
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