Rutherford also confirmed that Daniel and Henrik Sedin will remain as Special Advisors to the General Manager, and Ryan Johnson will continue as Senior Director, Player Development and General Manager for the Abbotsford Canucks.
"Stan has been a foundational piece of this team for decades, and we are pleased that he will be taking on this role," said Rutherford. "In addition, Henrik, Daniel, and Ryan are key parts of our leadership team. We still have some additional roles to fill, but confirming these positions today is a big step for us."
Stan Smyl, 62, will work closely with Rutherford on all hockey operations matters, including player personnel decisions and internal operations. Smyl is a Canucks legend, having served as an executive, coach, or player since 1978. The former team Captain has held several leadership roles in the front office since 2005, including Director of Player Development and Senior Advisor to the General Manager. He most recently stepped in as Interim General Manager to help lead the Canucks during the Hockey Operations leadership change.
