The Vancouver Canucks announced on Thursday that former player Alex Edler is joining the team’s player development department.
Edler will work with the Canucks’ prospects throughout the organization.
“Alex knows first-hand what it means to be a Vancouver Canuck,” said Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson. “His past experience in the NHL will really help in our players development, he understands the demands of what it takes to be a good pro both on and off the ice, while his skill set and communication will be a big plus when it comes to coaching and mentoring our prospects. Earlier this month we saw Alex’s hands-on approach at our Development Camp in Abbotsford, and the feedback we received about the job he did was excellent.”
Edler spent the majority of his 17-year NHL career as a member of the Canucks.
Drafted in the third round (91st overall) by Vancouver in 2004, he made his NHL debut in November of 2006 against the Colorado Avalanche.
He spent 15 seasons in Vancouver before playing the final two years of his career with the Los Angeles Kings, where he played from 2021-23.
The Ostersund, Sweden native skated in 1,030 career NHL games, scoring 104 goals with 439 points, split between the Canucks and Kings. He skated in the NHL All-Star Game in 2012.
Internationally, he won two gold medals with Sweden at the World Championship (2013, 2017) and earned Olympic silver in 2014.
The Canucks overhauled the front office this off-season after the team finished last in the NHL in 2025-26.
Johnson was promoted to general manager on May 14 with franchise legends Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations.
Manny Malhotra was hired on June 1 as head coach after the firing of Adam Foote and Malhotra’s son, Caleb, was drafted third overall by the Canucks at the NHL Draft in June.
