There had to be some connective tissue that season between Malhotra and Pettersson, who played the same position and saw the game through a different lens. Canucks assistant coach Manny Malhotra shares a laugh with Elias Pettersson during an Oct. 23, 2018, practice at Rogers Arena. Perhaps Pettersson can strike a harmonious chord with Malhotra as the Canucks' new rookie NHL head coach. "My goal is to help him find his game," Malhotra noted in his introductory news conference. Manny Malhotra (right) is introduced as the new coach of the Vancouver Canucks by GM Ryan Johnson at Rogers Arena on June 4, 2026.