Vancouver’s Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel, are back in a big way with the Vancouver Canucks, now serving as co-presidents as the franchise reshapes its front office. The move follows GM Patrik Allvin’s firing and Jim Rutherford’s stepping down after the draft, and the team has also promoted Ryan Johnson to general manager. This piece walks through their history with the club, what they face next, and how the June draft could change the Canucks’ direction.
It still feels wild that Henrik and Daniel Sedin were taken second and third overall in the 1999 NHL Draft and then spent 17 seasons playing only for Vancouver. Those years turned them into icons in the city and built a bond with fans that runs deep. Their retirement in 2018 and front-office start the following year set the stage for this latest step into leadership.
Now they officially hold the title of co-presidents of the Canucks, a move that signals change at the top and a desire to keep the club’s identity close to its past. The organization is clearly leaning on their credibility and connection to the locker room and market. The question many fans are asking is whether the twins will operate as a unified front or carve out distinct roles inside the office.
“For the past 26 years, Daniel and Henrik have dedicated their entire professional hockey careers to Vancouver,” team owner Francesco Aquilini said. That endorsement carries weight, and Aquilini’s vote of confidence likely eased the transition for a fanbase hungry for stability. At the same time, the presence of a new general manager in Ryan Johnson means responsibility and day-to-day roster work won’t sit solely with the Sedins.
The front office shakeup follows disappointing results after a promising 2024 playoff run, with the team unraveling over the next two seasons and making the notable trade of franchise defenseman Quinn Hughes to the Minnesota Wild. Losing Hughes altered the team’s blue line identity and left a gap that the Canucks will want to fill with smart drafting and development. The Sedins and Johnson inherit a roster that needs both immediate fixes and long-term planning.
June’s NHL Draft is the first big test for the new leadership. Vancouver holds the third-overall pick behind the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1 and the San Jose Sharks at No. 2, which gives them a real chance to land impact talent. Gavin McKenna is widely viewed as the presumptive top choice, but several high-end defense prospects like Chase Reid, Carson Carels and Alberts Smits are on the board and could be tempting options if the Canucks aim to rebuild the blueline depth lost with Hughes’ departure.
Picking third means balancing need with value, and the Sedins will have to show they can separate sentimental choices from roster-building reality. The twin perspective could be an asset when evaluating character and fit, but roster construction needs objective metrics and a clear timeline. Ryan Johnson’s promotion suggests the franchise wants someone focused on the nuts-and-bolts of player acquisition while the Sedins handle culture and the bigger picture.
There’s a narrative appeal to a Hall of Fame duo guiding the team that made them stars, and that storyline will please sponsors and supporters in Vancouver. Still, on-ice results will be the real scorecard, and expectations are high in a competitive Pacific Division. The coming months—draft night, free agency windows and development camp—will reveal whether this leadership team can translate goodwill into wins and rebuild a club that’s been slipping.
