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Why Shane Doan would be a great hire for the Canucks: Canucks Conversation
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Photo credit: © Patrick Breen/The Republic
Clarke Corsan
Apr 23, 2026, 10:00 EDTUpdated: Apr 23, 2026, 10:34 EDT
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On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal discussed why Shane Doan could be a strong fit for the Vancouver Canucks’ front office, even if the exact role he’d fill remains unclear.
The discussion comes after reports that the Canucks have interest in speaking with Doan, who is currently working as a special advisor with the Toronto Maple Leafs. As Quads noted, that doesn’t necessarily mean Vancouver is targeting him as a general manager, but rather exploring how he could fit into the bigger picture.
Harm began by acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding Doan’s résumé, particularly regarding traditional front office experience.
“What exactly does that role look like and how involved would he want to be?” Harm asked. “He hasn’t been an assistant GM or have a long track record of front office experience. You can’t really point to evidence good or bad when it comes to his ability to build a team.”
Still, Harm made it clear that Doan’s reputation around the league carries serious weight.
“I haven’t heard a single person ever have a bad thing to say about Doan,” Harm said. “By all accounts, he’s a gem of a human being; a super high character individual. You can tell immediately how down-to-earth he is and how much respect he has among his peers – you don’t earn that just by being a good player.
“There are some former players who are traditional and old school and not willing to adapt – dinosaurs for lack of a better term,” Harm continued. “Doan isn’t going to be a dinosaur. He seems like he’s innovative, would surround himself with the right people and different perspectives, so I view that as a strong green flag.”
Quads agreed, pointing to Doan’s track record with Team Canada and the way he’s viewed internally.
“He was the assistant GM and GM for Team Canada at the World Championships and as Harm said, the respect among his peers stands out,” Quads said. “He’s getting rave reviews internally because of how he’s handled this season and not being afraid to admit his mistakes and take accountability.”
That willingness to learn and stay open-minded is something the guys see as critical, especially for someone stepping into a larger role.
“What we know about Doan is he’s well regarded in just about every hockey circle, he has a desire to keep learning, doesn’t think he knows everything and those things really matter when you’re considering a guy to join your front office,” Quads added.
Harm took that idea a step further, emphasizing that building a strong management group is often more important than any one individual decision.
“So much of being a successful GM is hiring the right people and trusting them to do their job, giving them autonomy,” Harm said. “Putting people around you that are experts in their specific departments.
“This is where that open-mindedness and curiosity knowing he doesn’t have all the answers himself is a great sign. You don’t think a lot of people would love to work for Shane Doan? You don’t think he’d be able to pitch people and get them excited about working in Vancouver?”
That ability to attract strong talent is a key part of why Doan makes sense as a fit.
“I think he’d be able to sell quality people on coming here and that’s really important,” he said.
As the Canucks continue to reshape their front office, Doan stands out as a candidate whose leadership, reputation, and openness to new ideas could help lay a strong foundation for the future.
You can watch the full segment below!
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