He was on the ice at Vancouver Canucks development camp, and now he’s got a permanent role in the organization.

On Thursday, the Canucks announced that longtime Canucks defenceman Alex Edler will be joining the organization’s player development department, “working closely with prospects throughout the organization.”

“Alex knows first-hand what it means to be a Vancouver Canuck,” said GM Ryan Johnson via a statement from the Canucks. “His past experience in the NHL will really help in our players[‘] development[.] He understands the demands of what it takes to be a good pro both on and off the ice, while his skill set and communication will be a big plus when it comes to coaching and mentoring our prospects. Earlier this month[,] we saw Alex’s hands-on approach at our Development Camp in Abbotsford, and the feedback we received about the job he did was excellent.”

Edler, 40, spent 15 seasons with the Canucks after the club drafted him 91st overall in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. During his tenure, Edler broke most of the Canucks’ franchise records for defencemen. While Quinn Hughes managed to break Edler’s records for points and assists by a defenceman, Edler still holds the Canucks’ franchise records for goals by a defenceman, games played by a defenceman, most blocked shots, and the most hits by any player in Canucks history.

Edler departed the Canucks in free agency after the 2020-21 season, signing with the Los Angeles Kings, where he played out the final two years of his NHL career before hanging up his skates after the 2022-23 season.

Edler was an alternate captain during most of his playing days, many of which were spent with current Canucks co-Presidents of Hockey Operations, Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Those two, who held development roles of their own prior to moving into their current jobs at the top of the food chain, know better than anyone the impact that Edler will be able to have on the Canucks’ young defencemen.