The Vancouver Canucks' coaching search is entering its final stages, TSN's Farhan Lalji reports, with the list of seven candidates formally interviewed now reduced down to possibly three finalists.
#Canucks coaching search is getting down to the final stages. Some of the 7 candidates that were formally interviewed have been informed they are no longer being considered. Malhotra is certainly a front runner. Foote is also still in the mix. Possibly one more.
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) May 14, 2025
Quinn Hughes did…
As Lalji reports, Manny Malhotra and Adam Foote are considered finalists for the head coaching vacancy, while there's a possibility of a third name still being in the running.
Malhotra has spent time coaching in the Canucks organization since he was hired as a development coach in September of 2016, shortly after he retired from the NHL.
The 44-year-old native of Mississauga, Ont. played 16 seasons in the NHL, including three with the Canucks from 2010-13.
Foote has been an assistant with the Canucks since January of 2023. He also served as head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL for a season and a half, and spent seven seasons as a defensive coach with the Colorado Avalanche.
The 53-year-old also played a long career in the NHL, spending 19 seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets.
As Lalji reports, Canucks management had a conversation with star defenceman Quinn Hughes at the end of the season, and that both sides have a mutual understanding on the overall situation and direction moving forward.
Vancouver parted ways with Rick Tocchet at the end of the season after failing to make the playoffs with a 38-30-14 record. Tocchet had guided the Canucks to the playoffs in his first full season at the helm in 2023-24, but the team failed to match those expectations this year.
