The Vancouver Canucks have two big decisions to make in the not-so-distant future. First, they need a new head coach. Then, they’ll need to decide who they want to draft with third overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft at the end of June.

Hours after relieving Adam Foote, Kevin Dean, Brett McLean and Scott Young of their duties, GM Ryan Johnson confirmed he intends to meet with Manny Malhotra as Vancouver begins its search for a new head coach.

But what if the Canucks hire Manny while Caleb Malhotra, the projected top centre in next month’s NHL Draft, is still available at third overall?

Johnson directly addressed both topics during Tuesday’s press conference.

“It’s hard to be ignorant of an internal candidate like Manny,” said Johnson. “He’s shown his ability to develop young players, to build a connection and win a championship with a very young group, so I’m going to sit down with him and talk about the future. But as far as his son or the draft, I’m in no position to change or make decisions based off one or the other. There will be no sacrifice because of a father-son relationship.”

Still, the overlap between the two conversations is difficult to separate.

Once projected as a mid-first-round selection, Caleb Malhotra has steadily climbed into top-five discussions on several mock draft boards. He’s also been heavily linked to the Canucks. Fuelled by an 84-point OHL campaign leading the Brantford Bulldogs to the playoffs, Malhotra established himself as one of the top two-way centres available in the 2026 class.

Johnson also noted the draft rarely unfolds exactly as expected and suggested Vancouver’s scouting meetings have focused on preparing for multiple scenarios rather than zeroing in on one specific player

“I think the best meetings are the ones that there’s some contention, some debate,” Johnson said. “That’s how you get to hopefully the end result.”

Whether that result is Caleb Malhotra being considered the best player available at third overall on June 26 remains to be seen. But after Tuesday’s press conference, Vancouver finds itself embroiled in a storyline that will potentially follow the organization right through draft day. For now, though, the Canucks’ focus remains the coaching search.