How Canucks R.J. Saw Malhotra As The Right Choice

On Hiring The NHL Canucks Head Coach

OK, maybe Manny Malhotra was a shoe-in, but new Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson (“R.J.”) did his due diligence and researched other potential candidates before nailing down the choice of Malhotra as Vancouver’s new head coach.

If anyone’s wondering why “it took so long”.

“We know how tough this is going to be, we know there’s going to be some tough days,” Johnson told a limited number of local reporters. “I think because you guys see that there’s a connection between Daniel and Henrik (Sedin), myself and Manny, that ‘hey, a bunch, just some buddies getting together to do … that’s not the case here. This is more of a mission, something we see (as) an amazing opportunity to change a franchise, to build it the right way, to get it sustainable.”

R.J. points out that despite the organizational connection that has developed, he didn’t play with Malhotra when the two skated for the NHL Canucks. Johnson played 120 games for Vancouver during the 2008-’09 and 2009-’10 seasons before signing with Chicago in the summer. Malhotra came in the following season and stayed for two-plus seasons before a serious eye injury set him back.

When Malhotra worked as an assistant coach in Vancouver and R.J. was already working in Abbotsford at the AHL level, Johnson said the two spoke only in passing. The coach then moved on to Toronto as an assistant for four seasons with the Maple Leafs.

It’s when Malhotra came back to the head coaching position in Abby in 2024, with R.J. being the boss, that the two got to really know each other. They teamed up to organize and win a Calder Cup championship (2025) in the coach’s first season there. This past season, a plague of injuries led to the team’s drop off.

“Manny is very good at building his staff and his staff belief, delivering exactly what he wants and what he wants (it) to feel like, but empowering them to bring that to the table.” Johnson pointed out. “I think our staff in Abottsford, we were one, we connected, everybody had a voice, everybody had an opinion. Manny’s a good listener, he takes in the information, but at the end of the day I always encouraged, ‘this is your team, the final decision is you.'”

As for the potential Canucks assistant coaching staff, decisions still have to be made. Part of a busy three weeks leading up to the NHL Draft. Johnson was speaking from the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo.

R.J.’s mind is at ease with the final decision on Malhotra out of the way.

“You talk to any of his staff, or trainers, or people around, the personal connection is there, but the respect for the work and what you have to do is there, and that’s what I expect him to bring to Vancouver as we try to slowly change this environment.”