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Malhotra in Canucks contract negotiations with decision expected soon: report

Rob Williams
Rob Williams
|
May 25 2026, 8:23 pm
Malhotra in Canucks contract negotiations with decision expected soon: report
Ian Yount/AHL

It sounds like the Vancouver Canucks have made their choice.

Manny Malhotra is in contract negotiations with Canucks management to become the team’s new head coach, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

“I think they’re working through it right now. I think they’re talking to him,” Friedman said on Monday’s edition of Donnie and Dhali on CHEK. “I think we’ll know in the next few days… I have no doubt they’re negotiating with him… They’re trying to see if they can close it.”

If the Canucks hired anyone other than Malhotra as their new head coach, it would qualify as a major surprise at this point. The 46-year-old has close ties with new Canucks GM Ryan Johnson and co-presidents Daniel and Henrik Sedin. He’s also widely viewed as a hot commodity as a future NHL bench boss.

After firing Adam Foote last week, Johnson didn’t hide his interest in Malhotra.

“Manny has shown his ability to develop young players, to build a connection, and obviously win a championship with a very young group,” Johnson said. “I am going to speak with him, sit down with him, and talk about the future.”

Johnson also didn’t seem bothered by Malhotra as a coaching candidate due to the fact that they could be in a position to draft his son with the third overall pick next month.

“I’m in no position to change or make decisions based off one or the other. There will be no sacrifice because of a father-son relationship, I would say,” Johnson said.

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