Vancouver Canucks Set The Tone As They Name Manny Malhotra Coach

The Vancouver Canucks hired Manny Malhotra as their newest coach.

The late Monday announcement came nearly two weeks after the Canucks fired coach Adam Foote. At the time, GM Ryan Johnson told reporters he would speak with Malhotra and discuss the future.

Now, Malhotra was promoted from coaching the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks to the NHL role as Johnson strives to establish a culture for the rebuilding squad.

"Manny and I have been in the battle together before, so I know firsthand what a good teacher, leader and quality person he is," Johnson said in the announcement. "Connection, consistency and putting in place the proper foundation will be key for our group moving forward."

New Canucks GM Challenges Players To Be The Best Quality Teammate Possible

The Vancouver Canucks introduced Ryan Johnson as their new GM and Daniel and Henrik Sedin as their new co-presidents of hockey operations. Before discussing wins and losses, the environment and culture are the focus.

As Johnson said after Daniel and Henrik Sedin named him the Canucks' newest GM on May 14, the challenge for the players is to be the best quality of teammates they can be for each other. He suggested there will be non-negotiables about how they are as a professional and a teammate, how they approach each day and how they create a plan.

Malhotra will be the one to help ensure those non-negotiables are being met.

"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," Johnson said.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 10:57 PM.