Vancouver Canucks Make Changes for Sedins, Add Personnel

That didn’t take long. In this morning’s Vancouver Canucks daily, we mentioned you should expect to hear sporadic transactions and announcements from General Manager Patrik Allvin as they work towards the bigger events like the NHL Draft in July.

Today the Canucks made a biggee as it relates to their managerial and player development elements.

Twins on Ice

Future Hockey Hall of Famers — will they both be nominated on first ballot this summer (?) — Daniel and Henrik Sedin will transition to new roles within player development, literally hopping on the ice and working with prospects and young players in Abbotsford and Vancouver.

Added to the organization to work with prospects, fellow Swede and former Vancouver Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson, a Stanley Cup winner with the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, and former 550-game NHL defenceman Mike Komisarek.

Allvin also mentioned that Cammi Granato, Ryan Johnson, and Chris Higgins will remain in their current managerial and player development roles. Granato is a Vancouver Canucks assistant general manager, ‘RJ’ is Senior Director, Player Development and Abbotsford Canucks General Manager, while Higgins is Assistant Director, Player Development.

The small hockey world / connections thing works into this, maybe because Higgins (turns 39 on Thursday) and Komisarek (age 40) both grew up on Long Island (New York), but probably more so because they played together for four full seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.

Komisarek had been looking for his next opportunty after spending some time with his college hockey alma mater Michigan and then serving for three seasons as a player development coach with the Buffalo Sabres through the 2019-’20 season. For the last three seasons, Samuelsson has served as a general manager in Sweden’s HockeyAllsvenskan league, one tier below the top Swedish Hockey League. He’s a rare member of the Triple Gold Club, having won a Cup, an Olympic Gold Medal, and a World Championship.

Allvin’s official Vancouver Canucks statement:

“We’re pleased to have solidified our Player Development department for next season with the additions of Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek, as well as Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Cammi Granato and Ryan Johnson led an extensive search to find the individuals with the right attributes, winning pedigrees, and who fit the overall strategy of the Vancouver Canucks moving forward.”