The Vancouver Canucks are the latest NHL team searching for a head coach after firing Adam Foote and three assistants on Tuesday.
It's a complete fresh start for the Canucks with Daniel and Henrik Sedin as co-presidents, Ryan Johnson as general manager, and soon a new bench boss.
Vancouver is in a different position than the Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Los Angeles Kings - the other teams with head coaching vacancies. While there will be some overlap in candidates, established names like Bruce Cassidy, Peter Laviolette, and Craig Berube make little sense for the Canucks.
Instead, Vancouver should focus on pursuing a coach with a strong developmental record who can grow with the team as it rebuilds in the coming years.
Here are six potential candidates to become the Canucks' next head coach.
Manny Malhotra
Malhotra is the clear top option. He's worked alongside Johnson, Vancouver's new GM, for the past two seasons as head coach of the AHL's Abbotsford Canucks, guiding the club to a Calder Cup in his first campaign in 2024-25.
Of course, Malhotra's ties run deeper than just a two-year stint as an AHL bench boss. He played three seasons in Vancouver from 2010-13 alongside the Sedins. Malhotra also began his coaching career with the Canucks in 2016, spending four years on the staff before leaving for a gig with the Maple Leafs. He returned to the organization in 2024 to take the Abbotsford job, his first as a head coach.
Malhotra understands the Canucks. He's been on the big club's staff as an assistant. He knows the players and prospects. He has an established, direct relationship with the front office. It's a clear fit.
If it isn't Malhotra, what would the reasons be? You could point out that Abbotsford finished 29th this season after winning the title a year ago. However, injury woes, players graduating to the NHL, and roster issues in Vancouver all played major roles in the club's struggles. At times, Abbotsford didn't even have enough forwards to dress four full lines.
The Canucks also need to recognize that other teams will likely pursue Malhotra. The 46-year-old spent four years with the Maple Leafs, who are currently without a coach. As a highly regarded hockey mind, Malhotra may attract more appealing offers than what Vancouver can present.
Jay Woodcroft
Woodcroft coached the Oilers to the Western Conference Final in 2022 but was dismissed by Edmonton early in the 2023-24 campaign after a rough start. He's currently an assistant with the Anaheim Ducks and working with several young, burgeoning elite talents.
Woodcroft's resume includes experience with numerous star players during his tenures with the Oilers, San Jose Sharks, and Detroit Red Wings, and his teams in Edmonton were fantastic offensively. It would be interesting to see if he could get Elias Pettersson back to his prior form. Woodcroft is a top candidate if Malhotra goes elsewhere.
Todd Nelson
Nelson is an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He's won three Calder Cup titles in the AHL (2017, 2023, 2024) between two teams. He's also helped develop prospects in the Red Wings' and Washington Capitals' systems and has spent recent years on the Dallas Stars staff.
Nelson served as the Oilers' interim head coach in 2014-15, but he hasn't held a head coaching role since. Still, his experience with multiple organizations and his track record with young talent in the AHL make him a solid name for the Canucks to consider.
Anders Sorensen
Sorensen is an option if the Sedins want to tap into their Swedish connections. The 51-year-old is an assistant on Sweden's national team and has been with the Chicago Blackhawks since 2014. Sorensen was Chicago's interim head coach in 2024-25 and remained on the staff this season as an assistant.
Jeremy Colliton
Colliton coached the Canucks' AHL affiliate for two seasons after his dismissal as the Blackhawks' head coach, and he's been an assistant with the New Jersey Devils for the last two years. Although Colliton's NHL teams have produced limited success, the 41-year-old is still a young coach who brings a blend of experience and familiarity to the Canucks.
Jay McKee
McKee will be a pro coach before long, as his work with the OHL's Brantford Bulldogs has been impressive. He guided the team to a league title in 2022 and has helped develop multiple legit NHL prospects over the past five seasons. While a jump straight to the NHL might be aggressive, he could fit nicely as an assistant.
