BoS wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2026 12:40 pm
Manny has some NHL games too, no?
As a assistant (development) coach, and then assistant coach, yes. 3 years with the Canucks in the former, then 4 years in Toronto as an assistant coach.
So he's definitely seen what NOT to do.
He wasn't mentioned in that list as it was just the speaking to individuals joining his staff.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
BoS wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2026 12:30 pm
Mougenel was head coach of the Providence Bruins for the past 5 years, winning coach of the year last season.
Jordan Smith won the Calder Cup with Manny two years ago.
Plenty of pro coaching experience to go around, but limited NHL.
Yah, I really thought Manny should have got at least 1 person with major NHL experience to help him out to complement his lack on NHL Head Coaching experience, kinda like when AV had Bones as an Assistant. I was thinking a guy like Crow, maybe even Boudreau would have been good.
BoS wrote: ↑Fri Jul 10, 2026 12:30 pm
Mougenel was head coach of the Providence Bruins for the past 5 years, winning coach of the year last season.
Jordan Smith won the Calder Cup with Manny two years ago.
Plenty of pro coaching experience to go around, but limited NHL.
Yah, I really thought Manny should have got at least 1 person with major NHL experience to help him out to complement his lack on NHL Head Coaching experience, kinda like when AV had Bones as an Assistant. I was thinking a guy like Crow, maybe even Boudreau would have been good.
Just remember, when AV arrived in Vancouver he already had 266 games as a NHL head coach and close to the same number as a NHL assistant coach.
Bowness did have more games under his belt as a bench boss than Vigneault, but he had only been a head coach for 20 games in the decade prior to his arrival in Vancouver as an assistant and then associate coach.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
In listening to RJ he was clear that , yes, NHL experience is important and a good ingredient to have but if it upsets the vision or plan then it becomes counter productive. He said it would not be the deciding factor. The bigger questions were about the approach to teaching and development. That was the experience he valued above NHL coaching experience. Perhaps the coaches out there with NHL experience did not fit?
Sometimes NHL coaching experience can be over rated especially on a young, rebuilding team. They want to reset the culture, build a dressing room, organization, where players can develop and feel "safe" in doing so. Its a ground up rebuild. Not just about getting players in the stable but about creating development pathways to the NHL.
I dunno. I mean really you just don't want an old school old fart coming in and messing up the plan.
Also, what quality (available) coach, with significant NHL experience, is going to look at the current Canucks roster and want to take that on? Most coaches that fit that description want a team that is competing for the playoffs at the very least.
The stage we’re at right now is about establishing a culture and teaching young players how to become culture carriers as they develop and teach their potential into their prime.
Seasoned coaches know what that culture is, but they are also more likely accustomed to having a roster that already has players who know how to do that, so they may struggle implementing that…..look at Bowness this year in Columbus, his season ending presser was quite something to listen to.
Somewhere in NW BC trying (yet again) to trade a(nother) Swede…..
There are salient arguments for both sides but, in the end, we are at square one as a team so either or is as good as the other in all likelihood.
There are ex associate coaches with tons of experience that could have been brought on and, facts are, a pay cheque is a pay cheque from their perspective.
It kind of puts or young (for lack of a better word) core and the coaching staff on the same page. If it goes according to plan, they'll grow together and become an actual team.
Assuming Malhotra survives the rebuild and is extended, there is a realistic chance one or more of the assistants will either be canned or head-hunted at some point.
I too don’t put much stock in the lack of big league experience. This is a rebuild from top to bottom.
