The Vancouver Canucks have, at long last, named Manny Malhotra as the 23rd head coach in franchise history.
The news of Manny Malhotra’s hiring does not come as a shock for most. After the Canucks league worst season concluded, and former head coach Adam Foote was relieved of his duties, the search for his successor began.
Immediately, all eyes were on Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra. Although there were whispers of names here and there, none bore the weight, or made as clear sense as a Malhotra promotion did for the Canucks.
Manny Malhotra served as the Vancouver Canucks assistant coach and development coach from 2016-2020, and then as the assistant coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2020-2024, before being hired by then Abbotsford GM Ryan Johnson to be the head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks in 2024.
In Malhotra’s first season in Abbotsford, the Canucks had the greatest season of their short history, finishing with 92 points and going on to win their first Calder Cup. Now Malhotra will have a new test, to spearhead the development of the Vancouver Canucks rebuild.
“Manny and I have been in the battle together before, so I know firsthand what a good teacher, leader, and quality person he is,” Ryan Johnson stated during his post-hiring press conference on Monday.
“I want him to implement what I know he does well, and that is structure within a game. In three zones, absolute certainty from players, what’s expected of them, the structure that they’re going to play in.” Johnson commented when asked about the expectations for Malhotra coaching a rebuilding team
“It’s not the 7 pm on Friday nights, it’s the 8 am’s on Monday, and the focus and attention on that. Manny and I both feel extremely strong about that.”
Ryan Johnson also addressed the prospect of the Canucks selecting Manny’s son, Caleb Malhotra, in this year’s NHL entry draft.
“In the initial discussion with Manny on this position, it was very clear that each component and decisions and hirings or drafting, none would impact the other.” Said Ryan Johnson on Tuesday
“I want him as the head coach of the Vancouver Canucks. The Vancouver Canucks also sit in a position that his son is possible in where he sits, and where the evaluating has gone on throughout the year with our group, that there is a possibility, at what percent I can’t tell you, but that the Vancouver Canucks select Caleb.”
Johnson made it clear enough that the hiring of Manny Malhotra will not dictate whether or not the Vancouver Canucks decide to draft his son, Caleb, at 3rd overall on draft night.
The last time a father served as the head coach of his son’s hockey team was more recent than many may realize. Though not quite the same calibre of player as Caleb Malhotra, Rod Brind’Amour has had the opportunity to coach his son, Skyler in 6 regular season appearances over the last two seasons. So, although rare, the father-coach, player-son duo is not unheard of.
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