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The Vancouver Canucks could be looking to make a change behind the bench as revealed by the latest odds around the NHL.
The Vancouver Canucks’ season has gradually faded in the rearview. The post-Hughes trade bump proved to be unsustainable. Now, the Canucks have entered top-overall pick territory for this year’s NHL Draft.
The Canucks will likely sell off as many pieces as they can at the deadline this year. With some garnering more attention than others.
But there’s another facet to this conversation that could gain more traction in the coming weeks. The Canucks could be looking at a chance behind the bench.
First-year coach Adam Foote got the nod over Abbotsford coach Manny Malhotra. The move was questionable, to say the least, after Abbotsford won the AHL championship last spring.
Hiring Foote was part of a last-ditch effort to keep Quinn Hughes in Vancouver. The move was to no avail. Now, the club is hurtling towards a last-overall finish.
Unfortunately, Foote’s inability to spark a turnaround in Vancouver this season has placed him among the next coaches on the hot seat. According to the latest odds, Foote has +1,200 odds to get the heave-ho. That’s a 7.7% that Foote will no longer be the voice behind the bench.
Those odds may not seem substantial. But then again, who would have thought that Foote would be a one-and-done coach? The discussion about parting ways with Foote will likely be an offseason one.
However, Dean Evason’s dismissal from the Columbus Blue Jackets, in just his second season, does not preclude the Canucks from continuing their massive shake-up moving forward.
Foote Could Be Good Coach for Canucks’ Rebuild
There’s a significant argument for keeping Foote in the mix. The Canucks have tacitly admitted they’re heading towards a rebuild. That situation means that a teardown of the club’s current lineup is assured. What is unclear is the extent of that teardown.
Regardless of how deep the teardown goes, the Canucks may think twice about hiring another coach during the first stages of said rebuild. If anything, hiring another coach would be nothing more than bringing in a placeholder until the team rebounds to a competitive position.
Teams only hire top-notch coaches once they believe their club is ready to emerge from their rebuild. That’s what the Detroit Red Wings did when they brought in Todd McLellan. The Chicago Blackhawks did the same with Jeff Blashill.
Another direction is what the San Jose Sharks did with Ryan Warsofsky. They bet on a young, up-and-coming coach to lead them out of the rebuild. Perhaps that could be the path for Foote and the Canucks.
Malhotra May Still Become the Heir Apparent in Vancouver
As for Malhotra, he could still be the heir apparent in Vancouver. The Canucks may still see him as the coach who could lead the club back into contention. However, bringing Malhotra in may only be a matter of timing.
The Canucks really won’t need him at the NHL level to oversee the teardown and gradual buildup. Instead, Malhotra would be better off helping develop the organization’s prospects at the AHL level.
Once Malhotra makes it to the NHL, the same players he once mentored in the AHL could graduate to the main club. It’s a strategy other clubs have employed. That approach worked to a certain extent with Sheldon Keefe and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
So, it remains unclear what direction the Canucks will take behind the bench. But a change should not be out of the question moving forward.
Nestor Quixtan Seasoned NHL analyst and baseball writer focused on covering clubs across each league with news, analysis, and insights. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Nestor’s singular experiences and background have enabled him to bring a different take on the sports world as a whole. Nestor’s fondness for baseball and hockey set the tone for his love and passion for writing about sports. More about Nestor Quixtan
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