Canucks News & Rumours: Johnson, St. Louis, Malhotra, Myers & Clayton – The Hockey Writers – Vancouver Canucks

There’s now a clear template for a patient Vancouver Canucks rebuild that might actually work. Do the hard stuff, grind through the tough years, and don’t panic when the scoreboard looks ugly. The Montreal Canadiens went full reboot in 2022, took the hits, stockpiled picks and prospects, and now they’re an exciting, young team that just reached the Eastern Conference Final (from Ben Kuzma, “Canucks: Why Canadiens’ successful roster rebuild offers Vancouver hope,” The Province, May 20, 2026).

The Canucks are starting down that same path. They’ve traded established pieces, loaded up the draft, and publicly committed to a long-term vision. That said, the next steps will test management, coaches, players, and a fanbase hungry for instant results.

New Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson has been explicit. He wants to learn from teams that stuck to the plan. Vancouver’s front office is talking trades and drafts, not short-term free-agent fixes, and they’re banking on development and smart asset management to shorten the rebuild.

That means the 2026 NHL Draft is massive, but the Canucks are ready. They have a franchise-record 10 picks, including two firsts and two seconds. And those selections will determine whether the timeline speeds up or stretches on. But picks alone aren’t enough; the club also needs its young core to buy in every day at practice and in games, and that’s where continuity and strong coaching matter most.

Manny Malhotra: Continuity or Risky Quick-fix?

Manny Malhotra’s name keeps coming up as the obvious internal candidate to take over behind the bench, and there are reasons to like this option. He’s already embedded in the organization, knows the young players, and has credibility in the room.

Martin St. Louis is an instructive example. St. Louis had zero NHL head-coaching experience when he was hired to be the Canadiens’ bench boss in 2022, yet he helped bring in a new culture that paired youth development with clear standards. If Malhotra can get consistent effort from players like Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, and young players like Jonathan Lekkerimäki, the team could see steady progress without rocking the boat.

That said, the Canucks must be realistic: coaching alone won’t fix roster holes. If key veterans like Jake DeBrusk (who wants to win now) or Filip Hronek (a top-pairing defender with a hefty cap hit and a no-move clause) are moved, the returns must be meaningful and accelerate the rebuild. Malhotra as coach, plus smart trades and a good draft, would be the balanced route.

Canucks’ Picks, Prospects, and the Fork-in-the-Road Trades

The draft haul gives Vancouver choices: hit on talent and shorten the rebuild, or miss and add years. Montreal’s plan wasn’t just drafting high; they also traded veteran players with market value (Tyler Toffoli, Ben Chiarot, Brett Kulak) for more assets and hit on picks like Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovský, and Ivan Demidov. The Canucks have to emulate that same combo of drafting well and being opportunistic in trades.

The team’s recent moves — trading Quinn Hughes when it became clear he wouldn’t stay, and shipping out Conor Garland, Tyler Myers, and others — brought back seven picks and prospects like Cole Clayton. Those assets are the currency for either building through development or flipping for a more immediate difference-maker.

Keep an eye on Lekkerimäki and Braeden Cootes as barometers. Lekkerimäki, still just 21 and coming off shoulder surgery, needs to show his heavy shot and high compete level to stick in the NHL; Cootes (a 2025 pick) and Tom Willander (2023) are part of the future core the Canucks hope will form around Pettersson and whoever else they keep.

If those young forwards and defence prospects take real steps next season, Vancouver’s rebuild could accelerate without a full teardown. If they don’t, the club may have to trade vets like DeBrusk or Hronek to buy more picks and prospects.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

The short version of the Canucks’ plan involves prioritizing patience, smart drafting, and building a new team culture. The Canucks have a blueprint. They can follow Montreal’s patient rebuild or the Anaheim Ducks’ careful timeline with Leo Carlsson as another example. Still, success hinges on development and buy-in.

If the new management is true to its word, expect the team to be methodical. They’ll use this deep draft to take calculated swings, be open to trading veterans for real returns, and focus on creating a culture where young players push each other daily. If Vancouver can hit on a few key draft picks and their prospects show growth, the rebuild shortens. If not, this will be a multi-year project that requires steady stomachs from the front office and fans alike.