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The Vancouver Canucks GM candidates are down to two names, according to a very well-known organization insider.

The Vancouver Canucks GM candidates have caused quite a bit of noise over the last two weeks or so. Various names have been floating around in the media, with pundits and insiders reporting as many as a dozen names.

But one notable insider, Rick Dhaliwal, reported that the search is winding down. On an X post on Friday, Dhaliwal stated that the Vancouver Canucks GM candidates are down to two main names: Evan Gold and Ryan Johnson.

During the search, numerous candidates popped up. Some names have floated throughout the offseason front-office search involving the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Nashville Predators.

The Devils were the first team to choose their new GM, signing Sunny Mehta. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who reportedly had Evan Gold as one of their frontrunners, settled on a controversial choice in John Chayka.

The Predators, meanwhile, have not selected a successor for Barry Trotz. The Predators announced earlier this season that Trotz would retire at the end of this season, hence triggering the GM search.

As for the Vancouver Canucks GM candidates, one is a bit of a surprise, the other is not.

Vancouver Canucks GM Candidates Are on Opposite Ends

The Vancouver Canucks GM candidates are essentially at opposite ends. Let’s start with Ryan Johnson.

Johnson is currently the GM of the Abbotsford Canucks. Under his watch, Vancouver’s AHL affiliate won the Calder Cup last season. That situation prompted the organization to lock him up long-term.

As insider Elliotte Friedman noted, there was a tacit understanding that Johnson would remain with the Canucks long-term. Moreover, the team would decline any requests to speak with him, given his path to the GM role.

Friedman also noted that Johnson was among Jim Rutherford’s list of Vancouver Canucks GM candidates, as his desire was to promote Johnson to the GM chair, with hopes of Johnson eventually taking over for Rutherford as President of Hockey Operations.

As for Evan Gold, he has been a hot commodity this offseason. Gold is currently an assistant GM for the Boston Bruins. Gold’s reputation as a data-centric executive is what originally attracted Gold to the Maple Leafs. Plus, Gold is a lawyer by training, and is known as a tough negotiator.

However, the Maple Leafs passed on Gold, leaving him on the Canucks’ shortlist.

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Johnson Should Have Inside Track on GM Role

It would be a shocker if Johnson does not get the job as GM. The list of Vancouver Canucks GM candidates included Johnson’s name from the beginning. Considering how highly the organization thinks of him, it would be a ridiculous idea to hire Gold over Johnson.

If anything, the purported long-term plan was to keep Johnson in the fold, especially since he’s been in Vancouver’s front office since 2013.

The Canucks would like to ideally have their next GM in place as soon as possible. The 2026 NHL Draft is looming. Vancouver holds the third-overall pick, while free agency this season will also be a huge part of the offseason.

Oh, and there’s also that rebuild thing going on at the moment. Whoever ultimately takes over will have a heck of a time managing so many balls up in the air.