New general manager Hanlon has some Giant-sized goals for team
Mike Johnston isn’t helping the Vancouver Giants, but maybe some of his advice is.
“We saw some games together this season,” said Glen Hanlon, 59, who was officially unveiled on Thursday as the Western Hockey League club’s general manager, a job that was offered at one point to Johnston.
“Mike and I worked together with Andy Murray (for Team Canada) at the 1998 world championship. That was our first association. We’ve managed to keep in contact, as much as our time allows.
“This last year, we’ve both had more time on our hands than we wanted. He was living in Blaine and I was living in Point Roberts. There’s not a lot of hockey people in both of those centres, so it was easy to get together over coffee and go over things.”
Johnston was fired by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Dec. 12, four days after Scott Bonner resigned as general manager of the Giants. Bonner had agreed at the time to stay on until a replacement was found or the season came to an end.
Hanlon had initially talked to the Giants about a position in their organization in late November after leaving his gig as coach of the Swiss national team.
Vancouver is said to have talked to Johnston multiple times. He signed on last week with a Giants rival, the Portland Winterhawks, as head coach and general manager. It’s his second stint with the team in those capacities.
This, too, is Hanlon’s second go with the Giants, following his twoyear stint as a Don Hay assistant, which ended in 2012-13.
Like Johnston, he’s best known as a coach. This will be Hanlon’s first true GM job, although he maintains he had many of those duties during his coaching stints in Europe.
Hanlon also said he’s keen to leave coaching behind for a new challenge.
There are things to like about his hiring. There are also things to question as the Giants look to rally from missing the playoffs for a third time in four seasons.
“I’m comfortable in my skin,” Hanlon said when asked if he’ll feel forced to show his GM skills immediately. “We’ll do what we need to do to win.
“We’re not going to pick up the phone today and make 100 trades. It would be silly on my part, and this team is looking to get some stability off the ice and on the ice.”
His next duties will include finding a coach to replace Lorne Molleken, who was fired with two games left last season. Owner Ron Toigo has come up with a short list of candidates after a series of interviews, and Hanlon will give him feedback.
There was no timeline from the Giants on Thursday regarding adding a coach.
Hanlon did say he wants the next bench boss to make a four-year commitment. He wouldn’t reveal the length of his own contract, but contended he has no aspirations of returning to the NHL.
“Everybody’s dream at some point is to win a Stanley Cup and I think I had 30 pretty good whacks at it, between coaching and playing,” said Hanlon, whose career has included stints as both a goaltender and an assistant coach with the Canucks. “It didn’t happen for me, for whatever reason.
“The next cup that has the most clout that I’ve actually competed for is the Memorial Cup” for the national junior championship, he added. “I’m at a stage in my life where I don’t have to be in the NHL to feel fulfilled.”