‘Manny has shown his ability to develop young players, develop a connection, and obviously win a (AHL) championship with a very young group. I am going to speak with him, sit down, and talk about the future’ \u2014 Canucks GM Ryan Johnson on Malhotra.<\/p>\n
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Published May 19, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Will management familiarity breed coaching contentment?<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. 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Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events.Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account.The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an Account<\/p>\n or<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n That was the pressing question this week for the Vancouver Canucks<\/a>\u2019 new hockey operations department.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n It\u2019s aligned in history, admiration, support, friendship and belief in Manny Malhotra<\/a>. And a first order of business for the new regime \u2014 whether to retain Adam Foote as bench boss or make Malhotra the face of the daunting franchise rebuild \u2014 timing really is everything.<\/p>\n The answer came quickly.<\/p>\n Foote was fired Tuesday morning along with three assistant coaches, and the crowning of Malhotra seems like the next logical step to happen soon. New Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson made that quite clear at an afternoon press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s hard to be ignorant of an internal candidate that we obviously have, so I\u2019m not going deflect that,\u201d Johnson said of Malhotra. \u201cManny has shown his ability to develop young players, develop a connection, and obviously win a (AHL) championship with a very young group.<\/p>\n \u201cI am going to speak with him, sit down, and talk about the future. We\u2019re looking for consistency, patience, and ability to connect with a young group. The environment is my utmost priority and we have to all be aligned and stick to the vision of teaching every day.<\/p>\n Canucks Report<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you have commitment, good things start to happen quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n That said, Abbotsford had a rough season. It was also hit by injuries and Linus Karlsson, Max Sasson, Aatu Raty and blueliner Elias Pettersson<\/a> establishing themselves as NHL regulars. It challenged Malhotra.<\/p>\n \u201cHe showed the type of person and coach is by navigating the season and we never had a full team on the ice,\u201d reminded Johnson. \u201cCoaching through the worst of times and continuing to propel players forward, it tells you a lot about Manny and the entire staff.\u201d<\/p>\n The change in franchise direction to absorb pain to eventually gain consistent competitiveness and playoff pedigree demands all that, especially from the head coach. Player development is paramount importance and is a strength of Malhotra.<\/p>\n Malhotra, who turned 45 Monday, is widely viewed as a bright and accomplished coach ready to run an NHL bench. The former centre played for seven NHL teams, was a Canucks assistant coach for three seasons, and four with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He then guided Abbotsford to the 2025 Calder Cup championship.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Henrik Sedin, the Canucks\u2019 new co-president of hockey operations<\/a>, along with brother Daniel, watched Malhotra\u2019s command of his club while they served here in player development. They were solid on his commitment and creating the right culture.<\/p>\n \u201cWe played with him and know what kind of character he has,\u201d Henrik said on the 32 Thoughts podcast earlier this week. \u201cWe\u2019ve worked closely with him in Abbotsford. We know how he works and he\u2019s done a tremendous job out there, not only winning the (Calder Cup) championship, but helping the young players.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand there\u2019s interest around the league \u2014 there\u2019s no question about that \u2014 but if somebody reaches out to talk (to Malhotra) that\u2019s something we\u2019re going to discuss with (new Canucks GM Ryan Johnson). I don\u2019t think anybody has reached out.\u201d<\/p>\n Malhotra guided eight players in Abbotsford projected to be on the parent club\u2019s opening roster next fall. He was instrumental in getting Linus Karlsson\u2019s game and growth to another level as the Calder Cup\u2019s leading scorer, including four-game winners in 14 playoff games to set the pace. As a rookie NHL rookie winger this season, he responded with 15 goals and 35 points.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cManny was pushing me\u00a0to be more of a leader and that\u2019s helping me more in my game,\u201d Karlsson told Postmedia. \u201cMake sure I\u2019m on guys, set screens, be around the net and be good defensively.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s setting the right culture to be accountable to himself and his teammates, and that\u2019s what the rebuild is about.<\/p>\n If you think promoting Malhotra will only set himself up for failure as a rookie NHL bench boss, you\u2019re missing the plot. It\u2019s not the expected losses, it\u2019s the long-term commitment to grow together to not only be good enough to compete, but to win. The Canucks\u2019 marketing slogan \u2014 All In. All Together. \u2014 may sound corny, but it has never meant more.<\/p>\n That\u2019s what the Montreal Canadiens banked on in committing to Martin St. Louis<\/a> for the rebuild four years ago.<\/p>\n The mighty-mite dynamo of more than 1,000 NHL points, Stanley Cup championship, and two Art Ross Trophy awards, had only briefly served as special-teams consultant for the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2019 when John Tortorella ran the bench. That was it.<\/p>\n However, St. Louis<\/a> was always driven as a player and had the passion and commitment to succeed. Coaching was a natural transition and the same can be said about Malhotra. In 991 career games with seven NHL teams, the Mississauga, Ont., native had a 56.5 per cent faceoff efficiency average and a career-best 62.5 per cent with San Jose in 2009-10.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A deflected puck that struck Malhotra\u2019s left eye on March 16, 2011 resulted in four procedures to reduce swelling and the pooling of blood. He would play again, but was released from an AHL tryout in March of 2016 after 23 games. But Malhotra would impress as a Canucks\u2019 part-time development coach to start laying the foundation.<\/p>\n The Canucks finished ninth in draws (51.1 per cent) after being ranked last in 2015-16 (45.4 per cent). The turnaround wasn\u2019t lost on the hockey operations department because Malhotra also brought an infectious upbeat attitude to what can often be the daily drudgery of practice and video sessions.<\/p>\n In the fall of 2017, the Canucks entered a rebuild phase with Travis Green replacing fired head coach Willie Desjardins. Malhotra became an effective assistant as the club endured growing pains, but Green believed Malhotra could run an NHL bench one day.<\/p>\n \u201cI could see him being a (NHL) coach if he gets the bug, and I think he has it,\u201d the Ottawa Senators head coach told this reporter when Malhotra was guiding Abbotsford to a signature 2024-25 season. \u201cAlways had a real love for the game and wanted to be on the ice all the time.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cMuch like playing, Manny has those attributes and the smartness. That part is how you see the game, and he always saw it in a smart way.\u201d<\/p>\n OVERTIME \u2014 Johnson said assistant general managers Emilie Castonguay and Cammi Granato are being retained. \u201cThey are a big part of this group and their maturation. Nothing has changed in that regard.\u201d Johnson is also working on filling his old position \u2014 GM of AHL affiliate in Abbotsford \u2014 which he called \u201ca massive piece of this organization.\u201d<\/p>\n bkuzma@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Canucks: Five questions the new regime with the Sedins and Johnson needs to answer<\/p>\n![\"alt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779235449_383_54601439964_94e1d4c948_k_296275143.jpg\")
Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra directed his club during Game 4 of the Calder Cup Finals against the Charlotte Checkers at the Abbotsford Centre on June 19, 2025. Photo by Abbotsford Canucks\/FlickrArticle content<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.2.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-vp.svg\"){kind=logo}
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Linus Karlsson celebrates his goal against he Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena on March 28, 2025. Photo by Jason Mowry \/Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779235451_15_png0514scanucks-11_303134162.jpg\")
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