For some people, a summer bucket list contains travel plans, picking up a new hobby or exploring a new trail on a hike.
Abbotsford Canucks general manager Ryan Johnsonsa国际传媒檚 summer to-do list included moving a professional hockey team from one side of the continent to another in the middle of a pandemic, launching a new team identity and brand, signing and evaluating players and offering his input on talent to his parent club.
In other words, slightly more onerous than figuring out the perfect angle for a selfie at the lake sa国际传媒� but Johnson seems to think the views of his new team will be just as nice.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been a bit of a sprint, but wesa国际传媒檙e almost there,sa国际传媒� he said, when asked about his busy offseason. sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 been a lot in a short amount of time and wesa国际传媒檝e been busy but itsa国际传媒檚 coming together and wesa国际传媒檙e getting closer now to actual puck drop, which is the most important thing.sa国际传媒�
The team starts its journey as the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday (Oct. 16) in California against the Bakersfield Condors, the first home game is coming up quickly on Oct. 22 and if everything feels like itsa国际传媒檚 happened fast thatsa国际传媒檚 because it has.
The Vancouver Canucks made the relocation announcement on May 4, with the American Hockey Leaguesa国际传媒檚 board of governors approving the move on May 6. After narrowing the teamsa国际传媒檚 name down to 10 possibilities in June, the team name Abbotsford Canucks was chosen and revealed on July 14.
In between all of that, it was announced that Johnson, head coach Trent Cull and much of the staff from the former affiliate in Utica would be retained.
Johnson said he can feel the anticipation since he has arrived in Abbotsford.
sa国际传媒淭heresa国际传媒檚 an excitement not just in the city of Abbotsford but the Fraser Valley and the entire province is excited to have our affiliate there sa国际传媒� the closeness of understanding and seeing the process of our young players and our development first-hand,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檝e said all along, to be able to see somebody play in Abbotsford on a Friday night and then watch them play in Vancouver on a Saturday sa国际传媒� that type of thing will engage our fans on a whole different level.sa国际传媒�
He said there are a number of advantages to having the team in Abbotsford, including more flexibility to call players up or down.
sa国际传媒淚n a cap era to have the ability to move players in and out and to make adjustments to our roster in Vancouver to engage our fan base sa国际传媒� that was a big motive to make the move happen,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 think it was important to our ownership on a lot of levels to have our organizational model right there in front of our entire province.sa国际传媒�
Johnson said when the Abbotsford Centre hosted a Canucks preseason game in 2019 it proved to the entire organization this could be a good spot.
sa国际传媒淚t was something wesa国际传媒檇 talked about for awhile and it was just a matter of timing,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭he pandemic played a part in it because we had an unusual situation in Utica with the challenges that travel created.sa国际传媒�
He also had nothing but praise for the teamsa国际传媒檚 new home inside the Abbotsford Centre. The building hosted the AHLsa国际传媒檚 Abbotsford Heat from 2009 to 2014 and remains a strong venue to watch sports.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a beautiful building, great city and a great place to watch a game,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淭he building almost looks brand new. Our business staff has done a phenomenal job getting everything up and going and wesa国际传媒檙e excited to make that building our home and get people in there very soon.sa国际传媒�
Johnson said another advantage that being in Abbotsford brings is organizational support. Players now have the ability to work with staff at both buildings, and management can take in games, practices and meetings at both levels.
He said his relationship with Vancouver management will remain largely the same; he communicated frequently with Vancouver staff and now will have the ability to host them and meet them face-to-face on a more regular basis.
Two of those faces will be Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were named as special advisors to Vancouver general manager Jim Benning back in June. Johnson played on the ice for two seasons with the Sedins and said he has already enjoyed working with them. He said they will be significantly involved in Abbotsford.
sa国际传媒淭heysa国际传媒檝e been very involved,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 think they are really enjoying the process of understanding the operation of AHL and what that entails. I want them around as much as possible; they are a great resource. Theysa国际传媒檝e been around individually at different times with us but they will be a great support group for our staff and players. I couldnsa国际传媒檛 be more happy to have them here.sa国际传媒�
Johnson will also be providing input and offering advice to moves made in Vancouver. He said the final decision is always Benningsa国际传媒檚, but many moves are discussed as a group.
The impact of any move made by the NHL team on the AHL team is also considered. He said the recent Julovei trade to the Florida Panthers was an example of that.
sa国际传媒淎ll these things we kind of discuss as a group,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淎t the end of the day, itsa国际传媒檚 Jimsa国际传媒檚 call but wesa国际传媒檙e always looking at opportunities to improve our group. We felt this trade made our team better in Vancouver. For Olli (Juolevi) I think itsa国际传媒檚 a great opportunity and maybe a change of scenery and another look for him will be good. Hesa国际传媒檚 a great player and a great person and maybe thatsa国际传媒檚 going to be good for him.sa国际传媒�
The News asked Johnson about the status of Travis Hamonic, who was supposed to report to Abbotsford this week, but he simply said, sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 a Jim question.sa国际传媒�
The defenceman was absent from the Vancouver Canucks training camp and was then waived by the team earlier this week. Hamonic cleared waivers and was expected to report to Abbotsford, but he has not yet appeared and was not on the teamsa国际传媒檚 opening-day roster, which was posted on Oct. 14.
Johnson also said hesa国际传媒檚 also glad to have head coach Trent Cull back. He was the Cometssa国际传媒� head coach since 2017-18 and has posted a record of 122-93-0-26.
sa国际传媒淗esa国际传媒檚 very organized and is very deliberate with his coaching,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淧layers enjoy playing for him because hesa国际传媒檚 got their back. Trent is a guy I want running that ship to give our players the best resources to get them an opportunity to play at the NHL.
sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 excited for people to get to experience first-hand how good of a job he does in moving players along to the next level. Our job at the end of the day is to produce NHL players and give us a chance to build a Stanley Cup-winning team. Hesa国际传媒檚 the guy that I want at the helm of the ship.sa国际传媒�
Check back to Friday (Oct. 15) for more of an in-depth look at the Abbotsford Canuckssa国际传媒� roster for the 2021-22 AHL season.
Massive debut show set to drop Friday. We have general manager and senior director of player personnel Ryan Johnson and insider . Available tomorrow afternoon wherever you find podcasts
sa国际传媒� Abbotsford Farm Podcast (@abbyfarmpod)
1锔忊儯4锔忊儯 forwards, 8锔忊儯 defencemen & 3锔忊儯 goalies
sa国际传媒� Abbotsford Canucks (@abbycanucks)
The have announced the inaugural opening day roster for the 2021-22 Season
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