The Vancouver Canucks are entering the final stages of their head coaching search, and one familiar name is leading the charge: Manny Malhotra. The former Canucks forward and current bench boss of the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks is reportedly among the top candidates being seriously considered to take over behind the NHL club’s bench.
According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Vancouver is trimming its list of candidates to a shortlist of three or four names this week. Malhotra is firmly in that group, alongside names like Marco Sturm, the head coach of the AHL’s Ontario Reign.
“I believe that, this week, the Canucks are going to try to drop down to a shortlist of three or four candidates,” Friedman said during an appearance on Donnie and Dhali. “I would think that Sturm would be on that list. I would think that Malhotra would be on that list. And then, probably, one or two more.”
While this marks Malhotra’s first year as a head coach at any level, his debut has been anything but ordinary. Under his guidance, Abbotsford finished fifth in the AHL standings with a 44-24-2-2 record and 92 points. The team tied for the league lead in regulation wins (38), ranked fourth in goals scored (244), and finished 10th in goals against (204)—a remarkable feat considering the frequent call-ups of key players like Arturs Silovs, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and Aatu Räty to the NHL club.
Abbotsford’s playoff push has only strengthened Malhotra’s case. With his team advancing to the Pacific Division Finals to face the top-seeded Colorado Eagles, Malhotra has a chance to lead his squad to Calder Cup glory—an achievement that would underscore his readiness to take the next step in his coaching career.
A respected figure during his playing days for the Canucks and around the league, Malhotra’s rise as a coaching candidate has been swift, but not surprising. Known for his leadership, defensive awareness, and ability to connect with players, he’s already shown the type of poise and preparation needed to thrive at the NHL level.
Should the Canucks opt to promote from within, Malhotra offers a compelling blend of organizational familiarity, developmental success, and on-ice credibility. As Vancouver zeroes in on its next bench boss, the former Canuck could soon be at the helm of the franchise he once helped lead on the ice—this time, from behind the bench.
Leave a Reply