Canucks GM Ryan Johnson says camp focus shifts to daily practice as team continues in Penticton

The Story

Vancouver Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson used a Canucks Insider Podcast appearance to assess what he has seen through the first two days of training camp in Penticton, describing the current stage as a halfway point and highlighting a deliberate shift toward how players approach each day rather than where the standings might land.

Johnson joined host Chris Faber to discuss observations from camp and to elaborate on the role of head coach Manny Malhotra, whom he said he knows well from their earlier time together in Abbotsford. In Johnson’s view, the coaching approach this year is intended to move attention away from wins and losses and toward the work done in daily practice.

A central theme of the conversation was practice as the organizing principle. Johnson’s comments tied the goal to more than just on-ice performance, framing it as a daily routine that includes the rest of what comes with practice and team life. Rather than treating preparation as something that happens only at the rink, he described it as a broader focus that affects how players carry themselves during camp.

Johnson said Malhotra has been consistent in delivering that focus from the bench, and that players have been receptive to the message. The general manager pointed to an early emphasis on players engaging with the process and being willing to get uncomfortable as a way of establishing habits for the season.

The training-camp message Johnson described included a cultural element aimed at building comfort and ownership among players. He said he has asked players to be vulnerable and to handle those moments in ways that fit who they are, adding that the organization is not trying to force every player into the same mould or personality type.

Instead, Johnson characterized the effort as changing habits and perspective. He said the intent is to encourage adjustments in how players view situations, how they relate to one another in the dressing room, and how they treat teammates and trainers. In that framing, the aim is not to reshape people, but to reshape routines and interactions that can influence performance across a full season.

Johnson also referenced how the Canucks’ current environment is evolving, and how that evolution is tied to what he wants players to feel when they come to the rink each day. His comments emphasized support and familiarity within the team setting, suggesting that camp is being used not only to evaluate skill but also to set expectations for the day-to-day culture.

The conversation included Johnson’s relationship with the Sedins and how that relationship fits into his broader personal commitment to returning the Canucks to being a premier NHL organization. While the podcast discussion did not lay out new milestones or specific targets, Johnson positioned that goal as something that informs how the organization approaches development and identity-building.

Beyond camp and culture, Johnson addressed several practical organizational topics, including having first priority on the waiver wire. The appearance also touched on development priorities for young players and included discussion of the 2027 draft class, topics that connect current training-camp work to longer-term roster building.

For Vancouver fans following prospects and team direction, the podcast serves as a window into how management is interpreting the purpose of this stage of camp. With the Canucks described as halfway through training camp after two busy days in Penticton, Johnson’s remarks suggest that early evaluation is being paired with an explicit emphasis on preparation habits, player comfort, and team-wide expectations for how players show up.

For readers looking to track official team materials tied to camp and training content, the Canucks Insider Podcast is hosted on the Canucks multimedia platform at the league’s website, where additional coverage and related news items have also been posted around the training-camp period. Johnson’s comments land among other training-camp updates, reinforcing that process and daily practice are the themes management is highlighting as the team continues its schedule in Penticton.