The Vancouver Canucks might not have to look very far for their next head coach.
Shortly after the Canucks fired head coach Adam Foote, recently hired general manager Ryan Johnson met with the media on Tuesday to discuss plans for hiring the team's next bench boss.
One name Johnson admitted was on his list is already a part of the organization. Johnson said Tuesday that he will have a "serious conversation" with Manny Malhotra about the team's head coaching vacancy.
Malhotra is the head coach of the team's AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, and also previously served as an assistant coach with the Canucks.
"It's hard to be ignorant of an internal candidate that we already have," Johnson said of Malhotra. "Manny has shown his ability to develop young players, to build a connection, and obviously win a championship with a very young group."
Malhorta led the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup last season and earned a contract extension through the 2026-27 season.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported last week that the Toronto Maple Leafs could also have interest in Malhorta for their head coaching vacancy.
The 45-year-old Malhotra was with the Maple Leafs for four seasons from 2020 to 2024.
Johnson said Tuesday that he has not heard from the Maple Leafs at this point, and said he would "certainly love" the first conversation with Malhotra.
The Canucks and Johnson have a lot of big decisions coming up, as they also own the No. 3 overall pick in this summer's NHL Draft after finishing the season last in the league with a 25-49-5 record.
