Some old faces are getting some new titles in the Canucks front office.

None are major, but are notable in the career paths of a least a couple. For one, Ryan Johnson is adding Utica Comets general manager to his responsibilities. The former checking centre has worked as director of player development for the Canucks since 2016. He played 210 games for the Canucks as part of a 701 game NHL career.

Johnson said Wednesday on the phone from his moms home in Thunder Bay hes really enjoyed the role hes been handed by the Canucks. He started with the teams development department in 2013; he named the director of player development in 2016.

The job had him in Utica all the time as it is.

Developing guys, that first step into pro is such a vital and tough step, he said. If theres not support its almost alienating for the kids.

To be another voice to take them away from the rink, for life in general, the first time being on your own.

The biggest thing to learn is how to be a professional. And thats not always easy, he noted.

As the player development director, his job has been about teaching players that no longer can they think they will be successful showing up on Friday night, hitting the switch and play three in three nights and then Sunday shutting it off doesnt work.

Its what you do on non-game days, he went on. The AHL schedule is much like junior or college hockey, where teams have long breaks between games.

Thats the risk for a young player, living on his own for the first time, Johnson said. You cant just coast on your skills you need to be making yourself into a better athlete, into a better player.

That means eating right. Hitting the gym. Not spending hours playing video games and eating junk food.

Its a hard lesson, but thats how it is now, with so much money on the line.

(They need to) start to realize that it has to be all encompassing, to understand how to make gains, he said. Just about every player on a professional team, after all, was for much of their hockey life the best player on the team.

The first step is learning a little humility. They think hey Ill be in the American League and Ill score 30 and then Ill be in the NHL. Instead theyve scored twice and its February and theyre thinking hey whats wrong?'

All of a sudden youre the fourth line left winger. Its almost re-learning the game of hockey, he said. The real ones seem to get it by Christmas.

Youd be amazed how many guys dont understand how to forecheck. Its the ones who really want to get there that make it.

One current young Canuck is a great example of such a player, Johnson pointed out: Brendan Gaunce.

The Canucks first rounder from 2012 had a reputation coming out of junior as a solid two-way forward, but even then there was work to do.

He was all in from the time we said go, Johnson said. From skating to working out to learning the game. His commitment to his skating program.

Now hes probably one of our best conditioned guys.

Its all about preparing players for the step up to the NHL, where the margins are even finer, the opportunities even rarer.

Johnson pointed to his own experience: he played parts of three seasons in the AHL, scoring at just under a point-per-game pace.

In the NHL, he had to accept his role would be about stopping the other teams best players.

The formula for me was the professionalism, the kind of teammate I tried to be, he said.

But that also doesnt mean he can just walk into the Comets room and announce that he knows how to get it done.

You immediately lose the player, he said. Youve got a find a different way to relate with them.

One of the things we did at our development camp is we had these guys come in Scott Walker, Sami Salo, Troy Stecher and talk about their path, and the adaptations they had to make.

Now that hes added the title of general manager, his hockey lifes certainly not going to get any simply. But he points to the team hell be working with, from head coach Trent Cull, hired in June, to holdover assistant coach Jason King and new hire Gary Agnew, to Pat Conacher, who was the Cometss GM from the teams first season in 2013. Conacher is remaining in the Comets front office.

Agnew, now Comets associate coach, coached the Syracuse Crunch in the past and as general manager and head coach of the London Knights, he was twice recognized as OHL coach of the year.

Does it change much, not really, the development side of it is very important, certainly not going to let up there, Johnson said of the dual role. Its a continuation of what Ive been doing before.

Ive got a great relationship with Pat, with logistics, how hes able to take care of stuff, the day to day sort of things, with an eye to the East Coast League, hes been big for us.

He called the search for the Comets coach, which landed them Cull, extensive.

As you can imagine, especially with where were at with prospects and building competition and if youre not comfortable with that there, youre in trouble.

It took us aback about how good he was, he added.

In the scouting department, Brett Henning has been promoted to director of pro scouting. Hed been working as a pro scout for the Canucks for the last seven seasons. Joining Henning on the staff are David Volek and Brian Chapman, who both were amateur scouts for the team.

Theres also been a big shakeup in the Canucks amateur scouting ranks, which was expected. Lucien DeBlois, Ken Cook and Mike Addessa have parted ways with the club, the Canucks said in a statement. Additionally, Harold Snepsts, a fan favourite in his playing days, has retired.

Snepsts was an amateur scout for the Canucks for 12 years. He also played for the team for 12 years and was added to the Ring of Honour in March 2011. After retiring as a player, he coached in the IHL for Peoria and San Diego and in the WHL for Portland. He also spent time as an assistant coach with the St. Louis Blues in the early 1990s.

Joining the amateur scouting team are Todd Harvey, Paul Gallagher, Doug Gasper and Vincent Montalbano.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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Ryan Johnson adds a new Comets title as Canucks shuffle roles ... - The Province