Earlier this week, the Vancouver Canucks named Manny Malhotra the 23rd head coach in franchise history. On Thursday morning, general manager Ryan Johnson formally introduced Malhotra as Canucks bench boss as the two met with assembled media for a press conference at Rogers Arena.

Naturally, one of the things Malhotra was asked about was his son Caleb, who is projected to be a top-five pick and a popular option among amateur talent evaluators for who the Canucks should select at third overall.

Ryan Johnson hasn’t shied away from stating that the father-son relationship wouldn’t affect the Canucks’ decision-making at third overall and wouldn’t affect their desire to have Manny coach their team. As Manny said on Thursday, it’s not something he’s worried about at this point in time.

“It was a part of the conversations that we had prior to the hiring process, and I fully understand the story there,” Malhotra said at the press conference. “I understand the positives and negatives of it, but with so many things I’ve learned, it’s a bit of a fool’s errand to plan out things that quite haven’t happened yet. So if that situation were to happen, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Manny also mentioned how he has maintained a relationship of “multiple hats” with Caleb and his three other children, one as their father, but one as a hockey coach to help them grow as players.

“We’ve had a very clear understanding in my household that, first and foremost, I’m dad, who also happens to be a professional hockey coach,” Malhotra said. “So when we are talking about hockey, there’s a decision by my kids: do they want to talk to dad or coach? We will continue to have that rule in my house. It’s served us well.”

Caleb had an excellent draft year which helped him rise up draft rankings, as he was initially projected to go late in the first round. He accumulated 29 goals and 55 assists for 84 points in 67 games with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL, along with 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 15 playoff games.