Manny Malhotra made a strong first impression on the opening day of the Vancouver Canucks’ training camp, not just through his coaching but by skating alongside the players in their tough conditioning drills.
The 46-year-old head coach and his new assistants completed the workout twice at the South Okanagan Events Centre, once after each of the split-squad practices, while each player only had to do it once. Malhotra even outperformed some of his players during the skate.
“Don’t ask others to do what you’re not willing to do yourself,” Malhotra told reporters, explaining that the coaching staff wanted to demonstrate they were part of the same effort as the players, not separate from them.
The Vancouver Canucks’ rebuild starts with a fresh atmosphere
The changes around the Canucks started in May, when Ryan Johnson was named general manager by new co-presidents Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Just over two weeks later, Johnson promoted Malhotra, one year after the two had led the Abbotsford Canucks to the Calder Cup.
Johnson and Malhotra kept reshaping their staffs during the summer, while the entire roster returned to Vancouver early for pre-camp training. Veterans like Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko urged players to report for those skates by Sept. 1.
The approach is part of a plan by Johnson and the Sedins to create a healthier and more positive environment after two difficult seasons. Former president Jim Rutherford had called the dysfunction during that time the worst he had seen in his lifetime in the NHL.
Malhotra said his focus all off-season had been on building the right environment from the first day of camp. Instead of dwelling on what had happened before, he wanted the team to start from scratch and build something new.
Manny Malhotra leads Canucks training camp by example
Malhotra’s choice to join the conditioning skates was well received by the players. Boeser, the Canucks’ longest-tenured player, remembered that Malhotra had done similar things when he was an assistant coach in Vancouver.
“When I’m exhausted and I see the other coaches doing this, I think, ‘All right, they’re in the fight with us,'” Boeser said, adding that seeing the coaches take part in the sprints showed they were willing to share the workload.
Centre Marco Rossi also noticed a big difference in the team’s atmosphere. Rossi came to Vancouver from Minnesota in December’s blockbuster trade involving Quinn Hughes and said the environment felt completely different from when he first joined the Canucks.
Veteran defenceman Luke Schenn, who is starting his third stint with Vancouver, said there was room for improvement compared to previous seasons but stressed that he did not want the team to keep focusing on the past. He pointed to the leadership of Henrik and Daniel Sedin, Johnson and Malhotra, and said expectations were now higher.
Schenn, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning, also emphasized the importance of including everyone in the group. He said a strong team environment involves relationships, positivity, and a shared desire to improve both on the ice and in the gym.
Canucks roster changes add to positive camp atmosphere
The Canucks’ roster has not been completely overhauled, but several additions have changed the group’s makeup. Defencemen Schenn and Jamie Oleksiak were signed in free agency, while winger Brendan Gallagher arrived in a June trade from the Montreal Canadiens.
Schenn said he was familiar with the tensions that had existed around the Canucks before, having stayed close to some players from previous seasons and having also been with the club under its previous management. However, he said the current environment and attitude represented a clear opportunity to move forward.
Malhotra spent the first day emphasizing intensity and defensive play, with his voice often heard on the ice. Minor-league Canuck Guillaume Brisebois described him as a leader who still acts like a player and sets an example by doing the same work he asks of the team.
The coach also tried several combinations. Linus Karlsson skated alongside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, while Jonathan Lekkerimaki was placed with Rossi and Liam Ohgren. Filip Hronek was paired with Oleksiak, while prospect Zeev Buium skated with Schenn.
Malhotra cautioned that the opening-day line combinations should not be overanalyzed, but he was pleased with the energy and intensity. He said there was plenty of communication on the ice and that the players had quickly moved past their summer training mode.