Manny Malhotra named Vancouver Canucks head coach

Manny Malhotra named Vancouver Canucks head coach

Former Canucks player won Calder Cup championship in 2024-25 with Abbotsford Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks have named Manny Malhotra the 23rd head coach in franchise history.

The NHL team made the announcement Monday night, with general manager Ryan Johnson saying in a statement that he knows firsthand what a good teacher, leader and quality person Malhotra is.

The pair worked together with the American Hockey League's Abbotsford Canucks and won a Calder Cup championship during the 2024-25 campaign.

The move is the latest in an overhaul that has seen Vancouver replace general manager Patrik Allvin, president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, and head coach Adam Foote since finishing the season last in the league with a 25-49-8 record.

Malhotra immediately emerged as the prime candidate to replace Foote when the former NHL defenceman was dismissed on May 19 after just one season as the team's head coach.

The hiring reunites Malhotra with his former Canucks teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were named co-presidents of hockey operations last month.

Vancouver Canucks name Sedin twins, Ryan Johnson to front office