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What’s the hold up with Manny Malhotra and the Canucks?: Canucks Conversation
Photo credit: © Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
May 28, 2026, 09:00 EDTUpdated: May 27, 2026, 22:37 EDT
On Wednesday’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Irfaan Gaffar discussed the latest surrounding the Vancouver Canucks’ head coaching search and why Manny Malhotra hasn’t yet signed despite being a strong candidate.
The conversation began with Quads asking Irf the question posed in the headline: What’s the hold up with the Canucks and Malhotra?
“Is this a money thing? Is this Manny asking for too much money and them not wanting to pay him [situation]?”
“I’ll give you what I know,” Irf responded. “I know they were negotiating and talking. I know Ryan Johnson was back in Nashville because he lives there… he’s going to spend the summer here. I think he got back early this week. Will they have talks that continue [with Manny]? Probably. This is a negotiation. I don’t think either side here is in a rush to get this done. I think they both know and feel that this is the right direction that they want to go. It’s about talking about the final dollars and cents and structure and things like that. Let’s just say this. If it’s not Manny Malhotra, something went severely wrong.”
And if the Canucks don’t end up hiring Malhotra?
“I don’t think, if it’s not Manny, it’s going to be one of the big-name coaches out there. The salaries will be huge, and we’re not in a position where coaches look at this team as an opportunity to win.”
Instead, Irf believes Vancouver would likely continue targeting younger coaches who fit the timeline of the rebuild.
“It would be a young and up-and-coming coach if it’s not Manny, so I wouldn’t lose faith in that,” Irf said. “I do think they’ve got the right people involved and in place to make these decisions in the Sedins and Johnson. It feels like the first time in a long time we’ve been able to say that.”
Quads then made his case for why Malhotra checks so many boxes as a candidate.
“Manny is a perfect candidate. He’s been with a lot of this roster before, we’ve seen what he can do. It’s going to come down to money; maybe Manny’s ask is insane,” Quads said. “But they were ready to give Rick Tocchet a five-year, five million dollars per year deal just over a year ago, and now they don’t have money for the coach that’s going to be part of this rebuild?”
“I personally would lose a bit of faith if they don’t figure out a way to get Manny done,” Quads noted.
Irf added that while money could certainly be part of the delay, there are likely several moving pieces still being worked through behind the scenes.
“It might be about money, but it could also be about term, staff, who they’re going to draft,” Irf said. “That’s why it’s taking so long and also why the GM process took as long as it did — they’ve got to get it right.”
“This is not only someone who’s going to coach this team, but will be in front of the media every day and be the face of the franchise. He’ll have to be a good communicator, motivator and be able to get these young guys to where the Canucks eventually want to go, which is to contend for the Stanley Cup.”
You can watch the full replay of the episode below!
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