Laurence Gilman, Vice President of Hockey Operations

Laurence Gilman joined the Columbus Blue Jackets as Vice President of Hockey Operations on January 6, 2026 and brings more than two decades of management experience to the club.  He will assist President of Hockey Operations Don Waddell in all areas of the department including issues related to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, contract negotiations, arbitration matters and more.

Gilman began his National Hockey League management career with the Winnipeg Jets in 1994 and remained with the organization when the club relocated to Phoenix in 1996.  He served as director of hockey operations for the Coyotes from 1998-01, vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager from 2001-05 and senior vice president of hockey operations and assistant general from 2005-07. 

Gilman joined the Vancouver Canucks as vice president of hockey operations and assistant general manager in 2008 and spent seven seasons with the club.  During his tenure, Vancouver won five-straight Pacific Division titles from 2008-13, captured back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2010-11 and 2011-12 and advanced to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. 

The Winnipeg, Manitoba native most recently spent six seasons in the Toronto Maple Leafs organization as assistant general manager from 2018-22 and senior vice president of hockey operations for the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies from 2022-24. The Leafs qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his four seasons with the club, while the Marlies competed in the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2022-23 and 2023-24 and won the North Division title in 2022-23. 

Gilman is a 1991 graduate of the University of Manitoba and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 1994.