Nation Sites
The Nation Network
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Friedman: Canucks have interest in ex-Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell
Photo credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images
Jun 3, 2026, 12:42 EDT
Following the appointment of Manny Malhotra as the new head coach of the Vancouver Canucks, the hiring spree continues.
Malhotra’s departure from the Abbotsford Canucks means the AHL team will need a new bench boss. In the NHL, Malhotra will also need to fill out his coaching team. On Wednesday’s edition of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts: The Podcast, host Elliotte Friedman shared that he’s heard one name the Canucks are interested in is former Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell:
“The Abbotsford job is going to open up,” Friedman said. “I have heard some early rumours that the Canucks may have some interest in Jessica Campbell. There could be like a trade here, Patrik Allvin going to Seattle and Jessica Campbell going to Vancouver. … I’ve heard the Kraken have interest in Allvin, he obviously knows [Kraken GM] Jason Botterill. And I have heard the Canucks have interest in Campbell. Who knows where it goes, but I’ve heard that’s one of the names on their radar.”
Campbell was originally hired in 2022 as an assistant coach for the Kraken’s AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds. She helped the team reach two straight Calder Cup Finals. In July 2024, she was promoted to assistant coach for the Kraken following the appointment of Coachella bench boss Dan Bylsma as Seattle’s head coach.
In April 2026, the Kraken announced Campbell would be departing the team after her contract expired to “explore other coaching roles across the league.” The Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs are the only NHL head-coaching vacancies in the league, while a venture into the Professional Women’s Hockey League sees multiple vacancies behind the bench – including the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who fired inaugural head coach Brian Idalski earlier this week.
A native of Saskatchewan, Campbell’s impressive resume as a player includes a World Championship silver medal and a Clarkson Cup championship in 2016 with the Calgary Inferno in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League–a predecessor league to the PWHL.
Meanwhile, Allvin was originally hired as Canucks GM in 2022. He was dismissed this past April after Vancouver finished last in the NHL. Allvin previously worked with Botterill in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ front office, where both held multiple jobs, including stints as assistant GM and interim GM.
Breaking News
- Friedman: Canucks have interest in ex-Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell
- Why Brendan Gallagher could be both an asset and a way to get assets for the Canucks
- Gary Bettman says NHL has worked on ‘succession plan’ for new commissioner; outlines 2027 All-Star Weekend
- Canucks sign forward Ilya Safonov to one-year contract
- 6 observations from Ryan Johnson’s media availability after hiring Manny Malhotra as Canucks’ head coach