Manny Malhotra Takes Over Canucks — Familiar Face Steps In
The Vancouver Canucks didn’t go far outside the family for their next head coach. On Monday, they officially named Manny Malhotra the new bench boss, replacing Adam Foote after just one season in charge. It’s a pretty interesting move, but in some ways, it also feels like a natural one.
Malhotra has been around with the Canucks for a long time.
Malhotra isn’t new to the organization. Far from it. He’s been around this group in different roles for years, from development work to assistant coaching, and most recently as head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL. That last stop is probably what sealed it.
He did a really strong job in Abbotsford in the 2024-25 season, posting a 44-24-2-2 record and leading the team to a Calder Cup championship. That’s no small feat. This past season was tougher at 28-37-4-3, but the organization clearly saw enough in the bigger picture to trust him with the NHL job.
Malhotra has played 16 NHL seasons, some with the Canucks.
There’s also the player side of his résumé. Malhotra played 16 seasons in the NHL, so he’s been through just about everything you can imagine as a pro. He knows what a room looks like when it’s going well… and when it isn’t.
Canucks GM Ryan Johnson made it pretty clear this is about structure and culture as much as anything else. The messaging is consistent: connection, accountability, patience, and building something that actually lasts. Not just chasing short bursts of success.
The Canucks are a team that’s gone through a lot of volatility lately. They’ve had big highs, ugly lows, trades, turnover, and a season that completely fell off the rails. They were last in the NHL this year after finishing near the top of the Pacific not long ago. That kind of swing usually tells you something is broken deeper than just systems or personnel.
Malhotra’s job now is to steady the Canucks’ ship.
The good news for him is that he already knows the environment. He’s coached in Vancouver before, worked with development groups, and even spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant. So he’s seen different locker rooms, different expectations, and different pressure points.
Now he gets the main chair. There are no illusions here; it’s a big job, and there’s work to do. The Canucks still have talent, but they need structure, consistency, and a clearer identity. That’s the challenge waiting for Malhotra.