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Everything we know about Evan Gold: Canucks Conversation
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Photo credit: NHL.com
Clarke Corsan
May 9, 2026, 11:00 EDTUpdated: May 9, 2026, 01:20 EDT
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On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, Jacob Lazare and Harman Dayal discussed what they’ve learned about Evan Gold, one of the reported finalists for the Vancouver Canucks’ vacant general manager position.
According to reports, the Canucks have narrowed their search down to two candidates: Ryan Johnson and Gold, who currently works in the Boston Bruins organization.
Harm started by pushing back on comparisons some fans have made between Gold and former Canucks GM Jim Benning. Benning was with the Bruins when hired by the Canucks back in 2014, drawing attention to the similar situation of Gold. 
“I need people to stop with the Jim Benning comparisons to Evan Gold, because their backgrounds could not be more different; they’re almost polar opposites,” Harm said. “Evan Gold has a law degree, and earlier on during his tenure in Boston, he was handling legal affairs for their hockey operations department.”
While Harm admitted he doesn’t know Gold personally, he explained that he spoke with multiple league sources to get a better understanding of how Gold is viewed around the NHL.
“One interesting story I heard right off the bat was there was a team who was conducting a GM search a couple years ago, and this team was casting a wide net,” Harm said. “Gold was interviewed, but it was more of a courtesy interview, and the organization didn’t view him as a serious contender. I heard Evan was so impressive and advanced way further than anyone expected and was nearly picked as the GM,” Harm said. “He was arguably the best candidate, but in the end, I think the reason why he didn’t get the job is because he doesn’t have the biggest reputation.”
That lack of name recognition has followed Gold throughout his career.
“He’s not a former player nor is he very charismatic,” Harm said. “But the fact he made it that deep in the process when he wasn’t tabbed as a serious contender is a green flag. He’s been described as a forward-thinking guy. He doesn’t lean so heavily toward data and analytics where you’d put him in the same category as Sunny Mehta or Kyle Dubas per se, but a really enviable mix of being open-minded around data and blending that with the old-school thought process.”
Harm also highlighted the path Gold has taken to get to this point, noting that he worked his way up from the bottom of NHL front offices.
“He’s had to grind his way from the bottom to top,” Harm said. “As a non-former NHL player, there’s always a subconscious bias against those types and they have to work that much harder.”
Gold’s résumé includes time with both the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins organizations, with responsibilities evolving over the years.
“He started with the Capitals as an intern while in school, eventually grew into his full-time role where he was involved on the salary cap side of things,” Harm said. “He spent eight years in Washington, he’s up to 11 years in Boston.
“Over the last number of years, he’s gotten involved in everything else including Providence, pro scouting, oversees staffers beneath him – the point is he has experience in multiple front office disciplines.”
The conversation later shifted to whether the Canucks could potentially keep Ryan Johnson in a prominent role if Gold is hired.
“On the surface, it’s possible but may be an awkward fit,” Harm said. “While these guys have different areas of expertise, they’re both gunning to be in a main decision-making role.
“If Evan Gold comes in, I don’t know how you elevate Johnson’s responsibilities and make him more hands-on without putting Gold in a position where he feels like he doesn’t have the say he wants.”
At the same time, Harm acknowledged the two could potentially complement each other given their differing backgrounds and areas of expertise.
“They might see team building from an eye-to-eye perspective; they’re both sharp and relatively young, it’s just hard to know what the Canucks are thinking,” Harm noted.
As the Canucks move closer toward making a decision, Gold appears to be emerging as a serious contender. After a bit of digging, his résumé and reputation around the league may be stronger than many fans initially realized.
You can watch the full segment below!
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