Canucks Close to Finding New Coach; 2 Leading Candidates Remain

The Vancouver Canucks are getting ever closer to finding a new head coach to replace the departed Rick Tocchet. And it looks like it'll be a first-time NHL head coach who will earn the position.

According to Patrick Johnson of The Vancouver Province, the three-way race to the finish line between Manny Malhotra, Adam Foote and Marco Sturm is now down to two, and potentially even one.

Malhotra’s odds as the slight favourite over Foote keep improving because of the present and past. His franchise-record-setting 44-24-2-2 guidance in the first year running a pro bench at Abbotsford — where the AHL affiliate opens the best-of-five Pacific Division final Friday — has been met with critical acclaim.

Malhotra was an assistant coach with the Canucks for three years from 2017 to 2020, upon which he moved to the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant for four seasons before taking on the Abbotsford top post behind the bench.

The 44-year-old (turning 45 this Sunday) also played for Vancouver for three seasons, further entrenching his connection to the franchise.

Travis Green, current head coach of the Ottawa Senators, was in that job a few years back for the Canucks with Malhotra on his staff. He told Johnson that Malhotra would be a great choice.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Manny,” Green said. “We worked hand-in-hand going over game reviews and team reviews, and watching him grow as a presenter to the team was impressive. You have an eye for coaches after working with them...

"It didn’t take me long to think that if Manny wanted to, he could be (an NHL head coach) because he’s willing to put in the work and has a strong delivery in how he talks to the team."

Foote, 53, is pretty close to Canucks team already of course, having been working as an assistant (though currently without a contract himself).

"Foote would bring a level of continuity to the bench," adds Johnson, "and maybe the rest of the staff is retained with a minimum adjustment."

Decisions, decisions. We should know this week which way the Canucks will go.