It’s been the expected move since the Vancouver Canucks fired two weeks ago and the club made it official tonight.
The Canucks have hired Manny Malhotra as the 23rd head coach in franchise history.
WELCOME COACH MANNY!
General Manager Ryan Johnson announced today that the #Canucks have hired Manny Malhotra as the 23rd Head Coach in franchise history.
DETAILS | https://t.co/JJyyPHeb09 pic.twitter.com/Tbm9EHOYYP— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) June 2, 2026
“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 Ryan Johnson, Vancouver’s new general manager.
Johnson, Malhotra and the Sedin twins, who were named team presidents when Johnson was given the GM gig, all did battle together for the Canucks during the 2009-10 NHL season.
Malhotra, Johnson noted, has the “right mentality and skillset” to put in the proper foundation for the young players Vancouver will need to develop through a multi-year rebuild.
“We both believe that pressure is a privilege, and learning to become a good pro takes patience, dedication, and a ‘be better than yesterday’ mindset,” Johnson said of Malhotra.
“He loves the game and getting to know what makes his players tick and I am very confident Manny will help us ice a competitive and hard-working team that our fans will be proud of moving forward.”
Much more recently than his playing days in Vancouver, Malhotra was 70 kilometres east in Abbotsford as the head coach of the Canucks’ farm team.
With Johnson as the GM and Malhotra behind the bench, Abbotsford won the Calder Cup as league champions in 2025.
Prior to his two seasons in the Fraser Valley, Malhotra served as an assistant coach for NHL Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs for seven seasons.
When Foote was fired on May 19, all three of his assistants – Scott Young, Kevin Dean and Brett McLean – were sent packing as well.
Fans can expect the Canucks to announce Malhotra’s assistant coaching staff relatively soon.
The hiring of Malhotra also makes things interesting for Vancouver heading into the 2026 NHL draft, as Manny’s son Caleb is a potential selection for the Canucks with the third-overall pick.
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