Canucks officially name Manny Malhotra their 23rd head coach

Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Canucks officially name Manny Malhotra their 23rd head coach

Originally posted on NHL on ClutchPoints
By Michael Whitaker, ClutchPoints | Last updated Jun 2, 2026 12:18 AM ET

It was a disastrous season for the Vancouver Canucks in 2025-26, who didn’t come close to making the Stanley Cup Playoffs and decided to make several notable changes in leadership once the campaign was over.

In the first place, general manager Patrik Allvin was dismissed, and former forward Ryan Johnson was hired. Johnson’s first major decision on the job was to terminate Canucks head coach Adam Foote, who was promoted to the position before the season began following the departure of Rick Tocchet.

Now, the Canucks have their replacement for Foote, and it’s a familiar name to fans in Vancouver. Former Canucks forward Manny Malhotra, who was part of the 2010-11 club that went to Game 7 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, has officially been hired as the 23rd head coach in team history.

The Vancouver Canucks are naming Manny Malhotra as the 23rd head coach in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/Wk3RnlrtQ0

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 2, 2026

In a statement, Johnson said that being teammates with Malhotra helped him see his leadership skills up close and personal.

“Manny and I have been in the battle together before, so I know firsthand what a good teacher, leader, and quality person he is,” said Johnson via NHL.com. “Connection, consistency and putting in place the proper foundation will be key for our group moving forward.”

Malhotra has been the head coach of the AHL affiliate Abbotsford Canucks for the last two seasons, and also previously spent a handful of seasons as an assistant coach with the Canucks after having been a development coach with the club. Malhotra was behind the bench for Abbotsford during their first-ever successful run to the Calder Cup championship.

Additionally, he spent four seasons as an assistant coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

During his NHL playing career, Malhotra played 159 total games with the Canucks, scoring 18 goals with 30 assists. Overall, he skated in 991 career NHL games, scoring 116 goals with 179 assists for 295 total points.

This article first appeared on NHL on ClutchPoints and was syndicated with permission.

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