By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter
June 12, 2026
Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson announced late afternoon on June 11, 2026 that the club named Richard Seeley General Manager of the Abbotsford Canucks and Assistant General Manager of the Vancouver Canucks.
“Rich is someone I have admired and respected for a long time, after watching him run the Kings AHL team in Ontario,” said Johnson.
“Besides knowing the game of hockey inside and out, he is a great communicator, goes to work every day with an open mind and sets his players up for success by creating an environment that tries to eliminate any excuse that would stop them from making progress.
Rich understands our values and vision, and I believe his mindset and mentality will fit in nicely with what we are trying to establish with our organization in both Abbotsford and Vancouver.”
Seeley spent the past eight seasons as the General Manager of the Ontario Reign (AHL). Last year was a historic season for the Reign who captured the Pacific Division regular season title, finishing with a franchise-best 47-20-3-2 record and 99 points.
Prior to joining the Reign, Seeley spent three years as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations of the ECHL’s Manchester Monarchs.
As the Abbotsford GM, he will serve as the primary conduit between the minor league roster and the parent club.
Among other things, he will be tasked with managing minor-league contract negotiations, even scouting collegiate and European free agents, and ensuring that the developmental environment mirrors the tactical and cultural expectations of the NHL club.
Seeley will be off to a running start as the Abbotsford head coaching position requires immediate attention.
Johnson has previously indicated that he would defer the final coaching selection until the new AHL General Manager is installed, to leave it to the new GM to select his own head coach.The fate of current Abbotsford assistant coaches, including Jordan Smith and Harry Mahesh, remains tethered to this impending decision on the selection of the next Abbotsford coach, and the new assistants.
The upcoming summer development camp in Abbotsford, scheduled immediately following the NHL Draft, establishes a firm deadline for these hires, as the minor league staff traditionally oversees this critical introductory event for newly drafted talent.
Until next time, hockey fans
