The Vancouver Canucks hired Manny Malhotra as the 23rd head coach in franchise history, the team announced Monday.
Malhotra was head coach of the Abbotsford Canucks, Vancouver's AHL affiliate. He guided the team to a Calder Cup championship in 2025.
Abbotsford fell to 29th in the AHL last season and missed the playoffs. Malhotra worked with Vancouver's new general manager, Ryan Johnson, for the past two years in Abbotsford.
"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 a statement. "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."
He added: "I am very confident Manny will help us ice a competitive and hard-working team that our fans will be proud of moving forward."
Malhotra was an assistant with the Toronto Maple Leafs from 2020-24 before he took the Abbotsford gig. The 46-year-old began his coaching career in Vancouver as a development coach in 2016-17. Malhotra then moved into an assistant role for three seasons.
As a player, Malhotra featured for the Canucks from 2010-13 and was teammates with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who are now co-presidents of hockey operations in Vancouver. He helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.
Vancouver fired Adam Foote in May after only one season as head coach. The Canucks finished last in 2025-26, accruing 32 fewer points than the previous campaign under Rick Tocchet.
