The Vancouver Canucks are continuing their search for a new general manager following the dismissal of Patrik Allvin, and former Buffalo Sabres GM Kevyn Adams is one of the reported candidates in the mix.
According to The Athletic’s Matthew Fairburn and Thomas Drance, a source indicated that Vancouver has requested and received permission to speak with Adams regarding the vacancy with discussions progressing to the interview stage.
“The Vancouver Canucks have requested and been granted permission to interview former Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams for their vacant GM position, according to a league source. The source was granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the Canucks’ search,” they reported.
Because Adams still had time remaining on his contract when Buffalo parted ways with him in December, formal approval from the Sabres was required before any talks with other teams could proceed. According to the report, a team source declined to confirm the request but did not deny it, noting the organization’s preference to conduct its hiring process privately.
Adams was fired on Dec. 15 after the Buffalo Sabres began the season 14-14-4. The dismissal came after five-plus seasons at the helm during which the Sabres failed to make the playoffs in each of the five full seasons he was GM.
Canucks have multiple lists of GM candidates per Elliotte Friedman
The interest in Kevyn Adams comes as Vancouver navigates what appears to be a complex and multi-layered GM search process.
This week, insider Elliotte Friedman provided revealing insight into the Canucks’ approach during an appearance on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer.
“I heard the reports about Kevyn Adams,” said Friedman. “I think Ryan Johnson is a big one. Like I said, I think if it was just Jim Rutherford’s choice, it would probably be Ryan Johnson.”
“I think what’s interesting about this is I am starting to hear, there’s probably two or three different lists. There’s Rutherford’s list. There’s an ownership list, and there might be another one. And so I’m just curious to see how all this is going to work.”
The Canucks are looking beyond an interim solution and seeking someone who will eventually take over complete hockey operations control when Rutherford steps aside.
Friedman also looked back on past hiring and explained that when the organization fired Dave Nonis, they had Mike Gillis ready. When they fired Mike Gillis, they had Trevor Linden ready. When Linden left and they moved on from Jim Benning, they had Jim Rutherford ready. This time, there’s no obvious successor and there is unprecedented uncertainty.
Edited by Anjum Rajonno
