Canucks Enhance Player Development Department
After spending a season gaining knowledge and experience in the club's Hockey Operations department as Special Advisors to the General Manager, Daniel and Henrik Sedin will transition to new roles within Player Development, working daily on and off the ice with young players in Vancouver and Abbotsford. Joining the club are former NHLers Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek who will primarily work with Canucks prospects throughout the organization.
Assistant General Manager Cammi Granato will continue to oversee the Player Development department alongside Senior Director, Player Development and Abbotsford Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson, while Chris Higgins remains in his current position as Assistant Director, Player Development.
"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," said Allvin. "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."
Samuelsson, 45, most recently served as general manager of Södertälje SK in the HockeyAllsvenskan league for parts of three seasons from 2019.20 to 2021.22. Previously, he spent three seasons as a European development coach for the Chicago Blackhawks from 2017.18 to 2019.20.
Prior to his coaching and management career, Samuelsson appeared in 699 career regular season games over the course of a 13-year NHL career split between Detroit, Florida, Vancouver, Pittsburgh, New York Rangers, and San Jose, collecting 346 points (149-197-346) and 370 penalty minutes. The right winger played 155 games with the Canucks from 2009.10 to 2011.12, during which he recorded his two highest offensive outputs of his career, tallying 30 goals and 53 points (30-23-53) in 2009.10, followed by another 50-point season (18-32-50) in 2010.11 to help the Canucks earn their first ever Presidents' Trophy.
A native of Mariefred, Sweden, Samuelsson is a member of the Triple Gold Club, having won a gold medal at the Olympic Games (2006) and World Championship (2006) in addition to a Stanley Cup Championship with the Detroit Red Wings in 2007.08. He played in 104 career playoff contests, including 23 with Vancouver, registering 60 points (23-37-60).
Komisarek, 40, joins the organization after spending three seasons as a player development coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 2017.18 to 2019.20. Previously, he spent two seasons as an undergraduate assistant coach with the Michigan Wolverines at the University of Michigan while he completed his degree in Sports Management and Communication.
Selected by Montreal in the first round, seventh overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Komisarek played 551 career regular season games over 11 seasons in the NHL as a defenceman with Montreal, Toronto, and Carolina, recording 81 points (14-67-81) and 679 penalty minutes. He also collected three points (1-2-3) and 56 penalty minutes in 29 career playoff games.
Originally from West Islip, New York, Komisarek also represented the United States on multiple occasions, including two times each at the World Junior Championships and the World Hockey Championships.
