The Vancouver Canucks are turning the page on a turbulent chapter, and their new leadership is making it clear that culture comes first—before wins, before losses, and certainly before any talk of a rebuild timeline.

Ryan Johnson was officially introduced as the 13th general manager in franchise history on Thursday, flanked by Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the club's newly appointed co-presidents of hockey operations. In a press conference that signaled a fresh start, Johnson emphasized that the team's environment and locker room chemistry will be the foundational priority.

"I think anybody that has worked with me, alongside me, players that have played with me, they understand there's some real non-negotiables," Johnson told reporters. "I always talk about the professionalism of how they approach every day and having a plan. But even more importantly, and probably guys that have played for me would tell you, my biggest challenge to them every day is, what is the quality of teammate that you could be for each other today?"

That focus on being a great teammate isn't just a catchphrase—it's a direct response to a fractured dressing room that derailed what was once a promising season. The Canucks have weathered a storm over the past two years: a well-documented rift between J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, the trades of both Miller and captain Quinn Hughes, and a stunning fall from first place in the Pacific Division to dead last in the NHL.

Johnson's vision goes beyond the scoreboard. He wants players who care about how they practise, how they push each other, and how they read the room—literally. That means being aware of who's struggling, who needs a boost, and paying attention to the little details like line changes and daily effort.

"The players will be very aware that when they walk into this facility in September that they've got to make a decision of who they want to be as a player, but who they want to be as a person and a teammate," Johnson added. "And they'll know that."

The Sedin twins, who accepted an offer from owner Francesco Aquilini to take over hockey operations after Jim Rutherford stepped down, were instrumental in selecting Johnson over external candidate Evan Gold of the Boston Bruins. For a franchise that has leaned heavily on its Swedish legends in the past, this move feels like a return to the values that made the Canucks a contender in the first place.

For fans and players alike, the message is clear: before the wins come, the culture has to be right. And in Vancouver, that starts with being the best teammate you can be.