{"id":468876,"date":"2025-05-20T08:16:50","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T12:16:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=468876"},"modified":"2025-05-19T21:04:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T01:04:33","slug":"assistant-coach-candidates-vancouver-canucks-2025-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/05\/20\/assistant-coach-candidates-vancouver-canucks-2025-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Assistant Coach Candidates for the 2025-26 Vancouver Canucks"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last week, the Vancouver Canucks named <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/f\/footead01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adam Foote<\/a> their<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/05\/14\/adam-foote-named-head-coach-vancouver-canucks\/\" target=\"_self\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">new head coach<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but have not confirmed who will join him behind the bench. From those already inside the organization to those who have coached in Vancouver in the past, there is no shortage of assistant coach candidates the Canucks could call upon to help Foote out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Vancouver Canucks Introduce Adam Foote | Full Press Conference\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/keCd7-1vcmo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Exactly the Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Wants\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In his first media availability after being named the franchise\u2019s new head coach, Foote made note of what qualities he\u2019s looking for from his assistant coaches. Experience isn\u2019t an issue, he just wants the best.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<em>If our staff believes that the guy that we want is the best and best for our situation, and works with me, that\u2019s who I want to go with<\/em>,\u201d Foote explained. \u201c<em>Whether he\u2019s got five years, three years, or 15.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite this, Foote knows that the Canucks lacked in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/04\/24\/vancouver-canucks-player-report-cards-forwards\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">offensive<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> department this season. Given his previous role as an assistant with a focus on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/04\/22\/vancouver-canucks-player-report-cards-defence\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">defence<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it\u2019s in the team\u2019s best interest to bring in a more offensively-minded coach to pair with Foote\u2019s style.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<em>We need an offensive guy and we need a defensive guy<\/em>,\u201d the new head coach stated simply. \u201c<em>I think I\u2019d like to run the defence still, but I\u2019m not sure that\u2019s the way it goes now<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this in mind, let\u2019s take a look at some of the Canucks\u2019 assistant coach options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In-House Hires\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Canucks had two assistant coaches last season, Foote and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/svejkja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yogi \u0160vejkovsk\u00fd<\/a>. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gonchse01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sergei Gonchar<\/a> served as the team\u2019s defensive development coach, while Marko Torenius was named the team\u2019s goaltending coach after Ian Clark opted to take another role in scouting and development. \u0160vejkovsk\u00fd is still listed as an assistant coach on the Canucks\u2019 <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/canucks\/team\/hockey-operations\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, though the team has yet to publicly confirm whether he will continue in this role come 2025\u201326.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting or retaining some of their old staff is definitely an option. Vancouver currently has four player development staff listed on their site. Perhaps you may have heard of them, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sedinda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Daniel<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sedinda01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Henrik Sedin<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/samuemi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mikael Samuelsson<\/a>, and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/komismi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Komisarek<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many have floated the idea of the Sedin twins as Foote\u2019s new assistant coaches. They would certainly help fill the offensive gap that the organization says they need to mend. However, a caveat here is that neither twin has behind-the-bench coaching experience. They have been with the organization in managerial roles since 2021. The Sedins served as special advisors, then prospect development specialists, and now player development and power play coaches. With this career trajectory in mind, their next step could be to step behind the bench.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another option could be with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/04\/11\/three-players-who-could-make-the-canucks-roster-in-2025-26\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abbotsford Canucks<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who are currently 1\u20131 in their Division Final series of the 2025 AHL&#8217;s Calder Cup Playoffs. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/malhoma01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Manny Malhotra<\/a>, who was a favourite to be named the Canucks\u2019 new head coach, ultimately didn\u2019t get the role. He still has two more years on his <\/span><a  href=\"https:\/\/theprovince.com\/sports\/hockey\/nhl\/vancouver-canucks\/manny-malhotra-abbotsford-canucks-focus-amid-coaching-speculation\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contract<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as Abbotsford\u2019s bench boss, with the last of these being an option season. Malhotra and Foote played together on the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/bluejackets\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Columbus Blue Jackets<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from 2005 to 2007, so their previous history could factor into whatever decision the organization makes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coaches Outside of the Canucks\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Canucks have plenty of assistant coach options within the organization. However, there are plenty outside of it who they can also consider. For a familiar candidate, Vancouver could set their sights on bringing <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/burroal01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Burrows<\/a> in from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/canadiens\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Montr\u00e9al Canadiens<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. He is currently a player development consultant with the team and previously served as their assistant coach. Burrows was a Canuck from 2005 to 2017, meaning he was not around to play with any current Canucks. Familiarity is something both Foote and Canucks management emphasized in their media availability, so this may not be as likely.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head coaches opting to take positions as assistant coaches aren\u2019t unheard of. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/coaches\/juliecl01c.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Claude Julien<\/a> is currently an assistant coach for the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/blues\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">St. Louis Blues<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2019 despite having 20 years of experience as an NHL head coach. Vancouver could opt for a similar plan, bringing back a former head coach of their own to join Foote. Foote and management suggested that experience doesn\u2019t matter in this role. However, the odds of them hiring a staff brand-new to NHL coaching is slim. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/coaches\/tortojo99c.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Tortorella<\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0could be an option for a team that\u2019s looking for NHL coaching experience. This is also an unlikely option, but would be ironic given the fact that former Canucks head coach <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/coaches\/tocchri01c.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rick Tocchet<\/a> was recently <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/05\/14\/report-philadelphia-flyers-hire-new-head-coach\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">named the head coach<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/category\/flyers\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Philadelphia Flyers,<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the team Tortorella <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/03\/27\/philadelphia-flyers-make-coaching-change\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coached last season<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offence will be a priority for the Canucks regarding who they bring in as assistant coaches. With skilled players like <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hughequ01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quinn Hughes<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/p\/petteel01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elias Pettersson<\/a>, and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2025\/05\/14\/vancouver-canucks-sign-top-nhl-prospect-to-their-three-year-entry-level-contract\/\" target=\"_self\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">newly-signed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a  href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/w\/willato01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Tom Willander<\/a>, the Canucks will want to bring in a versatile assistant coach who can work on both sides of the ice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week, the Vancouver Canucks named Adam Foote their new head coach, but have not confirmed who will join him behind the bench. From those already inside the organization to those who have coached in Vancouver in the past, there is no shortage of assistant coach candidates the Canucks could call upon to help Foote [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5509,"featured_media":468909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[26,4547,4548],"tags":[2184,1231,155,4894,154,663,5402,2012,7732,158],"class_list":["post-468876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canucks","category-hockey","category-nhl","tag-adam-foote","tag-alex-burrows","tag-daniel-sedin","tag-elias-petterson","tag-henrik-sedin","tag-john-tortorella","tag-manny-malhotra","tag-rick-tocchet","tag-tom-willander","tag-vancouver-canucks"],"modified_by":"Levi Pike, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5509"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=468876"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":468913,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/468876\/revisions\/468913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/468909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=468876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=468876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=468876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}