Manny Malhotra named Vancouver Canucks head coach, becomes 23rd bench boss in franchise history

The Vancouver Canucks have named Manny Malhotra as the 23rd head coach in franchise history, entrusting the former NHL player with leading the team into its next chapter. Malhotra, a veteran of more than 900 NHL games, has steadily built his coaching resume through roles at various levels of hockey, earning praise for his leadership and player development skills. His appointment marks a significant milestone in his post-playing career and reunites him with an organization where he previously played. The Canucks hope Malhotra's experience, hockey knowledge, and fresh perspective will help guide the team toward future success.

"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 Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson while making the formal announcement.

"Connection, consistency and putting in place the proper foundation will be key for our group moving forward. Manny is a great coach who has the right skillset and mentality to help players develop and get better each day. 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. 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."



Drafted seventh overall by the New York Rangers in the 1998 NHL Draft, Malhotra enjoyed a distinguished 16-year NHL career marked by consistency, leadership, and defensive excellence. Renowned for his hockey IQ and faceoff prowess, he established himself as one of the league’s most dependable two-way centers. Throughout 991 regular-season games, Malhotra suited up for the Rangers, Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, San Jose Sharks, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes, and Montreal Canadiens. During that span, he accumulated 116 goals and 295 points while earning a reputation as a reliable player trusted in key defensive situations.

Malhotra arrived in Vancouver after a successful two-year tenure as head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, where he helped transform the club into one of the AHL’s top teams. Under his leadership, Abbotsford compiled a strong overall record and achieved a franchise-high 44 victories and 92 points during the 2024-25 season, culminating in the organization’s first-ever Calder Cup title.

Before joining Abbotsford, Malhotra spent four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs as an assistant coach. During that stretch, Toronto’s power play ranked among the NHL’s best. He later moved into a specialized role focusing on faceoffs and game analysis, helping the team become one of the league’s strongest faceoff units.

Malhotra’s coaching journey began with the Vancouver Canucks organization in 2016 as a development coach before he was promoted to assistant coach, contributing to the club’s 2020 playoff run.