Canucks Ask Maple Leafs for Interview with Advisor and Hockey Icon

According to a report by Elliotte Friedman, “Add a name to Vancouver’s hockey operations search: According to several sources, the Canucks asked Toronto for permission to speak to special advisor to the GM, Shane Doan.”

He adds, “Doan, who played 1,540 NHL games from 1995-2017, was hired by the Maple Leafs in June 2023. He received strong recent reviews from other members of the organization for how he handled things as this season went sideways. One example: He wasn’t afraid to admit his own mistakes and how he’d fix them.”

I wrote recently, “The Canucks, who have a long history of bringing in familiar leadership, are now without an obvious internal successor. With Jim Rutherford’s tenure expected to wind down, ownership is trying to decide if it should follow the trend of hiring a new, first-time GM.”

Friedman adds, “What potential role the Canucks see for Doan is unclear. He’s never expressed a desire to be a full-time GM, but could definitely be a part of a group.”

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