How former players Ryan Johnson and Manny Malhotra are shaping Vancouver Canucks' next generation in Abbotsford
Over a dozen years since starring in key roles for the Vancouver Canucks' Stanley Cup-challenging days, Ryan Johnson and Manny Malhotra are back in charge together—this time from behind the bench and in the front office—and driving the Abbotsford Canucks to their inaugural Calder Cup Final.
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What started as a shared vision for how to best develop players has become one of the most prosperous seasons in Vancouver's AHL affiliate's history.
From NHL veterans to AHL architects: Ryan Johnson and Manny Malhotra revive Vancouver Canucks culture in Abbotsford
When the Vancouver Canucks replaced veteran checking center Ryan Johnson with younger Manny Malhotra in 2010, it was a humble roster upgrade. But the move spoke more about the organization's trust in both players' professionalism, intelligence, and leadership than it did their fourth-line numbers.
Flash forward 15 years, and both Johnson and Malhotra have leveraged their on-ice experience into high-level hockey operations jobs. Johnson, now 48, is the Canucks' assistant GM and manages Abbotsford's AHL team, while Malhotra, 45, is in his inaugural year as Abbotsford's head coach—and already exerting a huge impact.
Should Manny Malhotra coach the Canucks?
'Well, playing hockey in June, it means something special is happening,' Johnson said to Sportsnet.
'So it's been an unbelievable run for this group."
The AHL affiliate of the Canucks, which moved from Utica in 2021, has yet to claim a Calder Cup — but now they're just four victories away. The roster combines up-and-coming talent such as Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Arshdeep Bains, Max Sasson, Victor Mancini, and Linus Karlsson with seasoned stability from Phil Di Giuseppe, Christian Wolanin, Guillaume Brisebois, and Stanley Cup champion Sammy Blais.
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Arturs Silovs, who has just come off impressive NHL performances, has been the goaltender who has backed Abbotsford to a deep playoff run.
Johnson, who brought in Malhotra during the offseason, indicated that he never had any hesitation with his first choice after Jeremy Colliton departed for an NHL job with the Devils.
'Any coach that I've hired to bring here — going back to working with Travis and Trent Cull and Jeremy Colliton — I've never brought coaches here to be in the American League for 10 years.
That would be a failure on my behalf. I knew in January or February of last year that I was going to be looking for a head coach. Jim and Patrik said: 'What's your list?' There was a bunch of names on one list and then there was one name on my main list, and that was Manny.
I had a ton of respect for his journey as a player, what I knew his experience was as an assistant coach in the NHL, and the quality of person that he is. I'm always intrigued by somebody that's comfortable in their role, getting uncomfortable to come back and be able to take everything that they've learned and mould it into their own.
Obviously, he's done a heck of a job in his first year as a head coach at any level.' Johnson said.
Although they never shared the ice together, Johnson and Malhotra toiled in tandem during the early days of Malhotra's coaching career in Vancouver. Johnson attributes Malhotra's decision to forsake a comfortable position with the Maple Leafs for his first head coaching job as an indication of genuine character.
'We have a great group.
RJ has put together a great team, and then our staff, again, I've been very fortunate to work with guys that are hungry, guys that want to do the work and want to be really good coaches. That elevates me. So I think I kind of walked into a perfect (situation). The overall feeling of our group and watching them grow and evolve has been pretty cool,' Malhotra said.
Malhotra gives Johnson credit for assembling a roster and staff with intention, desire, and ownership.
The chemistry and synchronized objectives assisted in creating an environment in which development and winning are married.
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With the Calder Cup Final starting Friday night in Charlotte, Abbotsford Canucks are not merely pursuing hardware — they're upholding the Canucks organization's grander objective of long-term, homegrown development. And with Johnson and Malhotra leading the pipeline, Vancouver's future could be as bright off the ice as it is on it.
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