NHL Rumors: Favorite Emerging To Become Canucks Next Head Coach
The organizational reset under new GM Ryan Johnson, with co-presidents Daniel and Henrik Sedin overseeing the larger picture, is now complete enough that a new coaching hire is the last major piece of the rebuild's foundation.
And Johnson did not wait long before pointing directly at the name on everyone's mind.
"It's hard to be ignorant of an internal candidate that we obviously have," Johnson said at his press conference. "I'm not going to deflect that Manny has shown his ability to develop young players, to build a connection, and obviously win a championship with a very young group. I won't be ignorant to the fact that I am going to speak with him, sit down with him, and talk about the future."
Why Malhotra Makes Sense
Malhotra, 46, led the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup championship in 2024-25 in his first season as a professional head coach, guiding a young roster with organizational talent at every position through one of the league's more difficult competitive environments.
He was a candidate for the Vancouver head coaching job before Foote was hired and has spent the last two seasons building a ton of developmental credibility.
Is Manny Malhotra the slam dunk choice for the next #Canucks head coach? If so how does that impact their interest in Caleb Malhotra?
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) May 20, 2026
👉@SatiarShah and @BikNizzar are joined by @FriedgeHNIC to discuss this and more! pic.twitter.com/c5Sf6NppEP
His connection to the city also runs deep.
He played three seasons in Vancouver from 2010 to 2013 as a fan favorite, served as an assistant with the Canucks before moving to the Leafs' staff under Sheldon Keefe, and then returned to the organization in Abbotsford.
The Sedins, who both played alongside Malhotra during his Vancouver years, have been described by multiple reports as supportive of his candidacy.
The Caleb Malhotra Subplot
The coaching search comes with an unusual subplot that Johnson addressed.
The Canucks hold three draft picks and have the opportunity to select Caleb Malhotra, Manny's son, in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Caleb, 17, scored 84 points in 67 games with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs and has drawn legitimate first-round buzz despite having committed to Boston University.
He is going to go through the process with Malhotra before deciding how wide to cast a net for other candidates. Reading between the lines, it sounds like if things go well with Manny they may not need to look elsewhere. No other teams have asked for permission yet to speak to…
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) May 19, 2026
Johnson was asked whether the father-son dynamic would complicate the coaching decision.
He was clear that the two processes are separate and that one will not influence the other.
The Canucks are not expected to conduct an exhaustive external search on the scale of the GM process, though Johnson indicated he will speak with other candidates before making a final decision.
Photo Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
