The Columbus Blue Jackets have named a former Vancouver Canucks Assistant General Manager to join their front office staff.

Blue Jackets President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced on Tuesday morning that Laurence Gilman will be joining the organization as Vice President of Hockey Operations.

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gilman began his career with his hometown Winnipeg Jets in 1994. During his 13 years with the organization, he remained with the club through its relocation to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1996. While with the franchise, Gilman held several senior roles, including director of hockey operations from 1998–2001, vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager from 2001–2005, and senior vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager from 2005–2007.

Gilman’s tenure with the Vancouver Canucks coincided with one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Over seven seasons (2008–2015) as vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager, the Canucks captured five consecutive Pacific Division titles, won back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2010–11 and 2011–12, and advanced to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

Most recently, Gilman worked with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He served as assistant general manager from 2018–2022, helping the club qualify for the playoffs in all four seasons. He was later named senior vice president of hockey operations for the Toronto Marlies, the Maple Leafs’ American Hockey League affiliate.

“I’m very excited to join the Blue Jackets and want to thank Don for the opportunity,” Gilman said in a team release. “Columbus is a terrific market with great fans, and I look forward to working with everyone there and doing everything I can to help this team have success on the ice.”

With more than 20 years of NHL experience, Gilman joins the Columbus Blue Jackets organization, which is aiming to take the next step with a young core of players. The Blue Jackets currently rank last in the tightly contested Metropolitan Division with an 18-16-7 record.