Breaking: Vancouver Canucks Make Head Coaching Decision

Vancouver Canucks new front office, Daniel & Henrik Sedin and Ryan Johnson

Now that the Vancouver Canucks have a new general manager in place in Ryan Johnson, and new presidents of hockey operations in the Sedins, it was time to deal with the head coaching situation. And the front office trio has decided that Adam Foote is not the man to lead them forward. Insider Darren Dreger reports that Foote will not return.

The Vancouver Canucks continue to make changes. Sources say Adam Foote has been let go as Head Coach. Other changes to the coaching staff also being made.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) May 19, 2026

Additionally, assistants Scott Young, Kevin Dean, and Brett McLean were also let go.

The Canucks finished with the worst record in the NHL, and fired GM Patrik Allvin immediately after the season. Johnson and the Sedins were put in place last week.

At Johnson's introductory news conference, he admitted that properly evaluating the job that Foote did this past season was a tough one to consider.

“If you look at last year as a whole, it’s really tough to evaluate a coach or anyone, with all the adversity of the injuries, the goaltending — everything that went on,” Johnson said.

Nevertheless, they have come to the conclusion that a new voice is needed for the future.

The initial top candidate to take over is potentially Manny Malhotra, currently the head coach of the Canucks' AHL team in Abbotsford.

Insider Frank Seravalli said on The Fan a few days back that if the Toronto Maple Leafs make a push to try to talk to Malhotra about their own head coach opening, "that's gonna then force Vancouver...to make a decision, 'Are we willing to let this guy walk out the door or are we gonna fire Adam Foote now?'.

We now have our answer.

Additionally, Malhotra's son, Caleb, is potentially a Top 3 selection in this year's NHL Draft. The Canucks have the 3rd pick.