The Vancouver Canucks enter the 2025 off-season in need of a new head coach. While it won't be easy to replace Rick Tocchet, the Canucks need to bring in a coach who can guide this team back into a playoff spot. With this in mind, here is a look at four potential rookie head coaches who would be intriguing options for Vancouver next season. 

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Manny Malhotra

Elevating Manny Malhotra from the AHL is not a bad idea. Under his watch, the Abbotsford Canucks posted their best season in franchise history, and are currently in the second-round of the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Malhotra has also spent time on an NHL bench, as he has been an assistant for both the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs in the past. 

One of the biggest positives of promoting Malhotra is that he understands how the organization works and wants to play. Vancouver has done a good job of ensuring that the NHL and AHL teams are on the same page, which is why so many AHLers were able to make an impact at both levels this season. Just like the players, maybe it is time for Malhotra to get a call-up to the NHL. 

Sam Hallam

If the Canucks want to look outside of North America, Sam Hallam would be a good option for the organization. Hallam has been in charge of Sweden's national team since 2022-23 and is currently coaching at the World Championship. The Swedish coach has almost 20 years of experience and has been named SHL Coach of the Year twice in the past decade. 

The benefit of bringing in Hallam is that he has experience coaching NHL players. He was behind the bench at the 4 Nations Face-Off and is projected to be Sweden's head coach for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Hallam was also Elias Pettersson's coach with the Växjö Lakers HC in the 2017-18 season, when Vancouver's center won the SHL's Most Valuable Player award and was named Swedish Forward of the Year. 

Mike Vellucci

Since Jim Rutherford arrived, a common theme with the Canucks has been bringing in people or players that he has worked with in the past. That is where Mike Vellucci comes in. The current Pittsburgh Penguins assistant coach has worked with both Rutherford and Patrik Allvin in the past, which could make him a potential candidate for the job in Vancouver. 

Over his 30+ year career, Vellucci has spent time both in management and behind the bench. He was an assistant coach with the Carolina Hurricanes for five seasons before joining the Penguins as an assistant coach in 2020-21. A former two-time OHL Coach of the Year and AHL Coach of the Year in 2019, Vellucci is currently behind the bench for Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

David Carle

David Carle is an up-and-coming coach with an impressive track record in the NCAA. Since becoming the head coach of the University of Denver in 2018-19, he has led the Pioneers to two NCAA Championships. Carle has also been in charge of Team USA's World Junior team for the last two years, winning Gold in each tournament. 

It's hard to imagine that Carle won't get NHL offers during the off-season. He has a 179-74-17 record in the NCAA and understands how to work with and develop young players. With an experienced staff around him, Carle could be exactly the type of coach the Canucks currently need. 

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