David Pagnotta report confirms Manny Malhotra is top NHL coaching target now
|
Daniel Lucente
Mar 24, 2026 (12:11)
|
|
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
David Pagnotta says Manny Malhotra, under contract through 2026-27, is on NHL radars, and that turns a quiet AHL name into a real bench threat.
Pagnotta gave the report on Leafs Morning Take. That matters because NHL clubs start building coaching lists before the season is officially over.
Malhotra is 45, a Calder Cup winner in 2025, and his compensation is not public. Coaches do not count against the salary cap, so the cost is leverage, not cap space.
Vancouver picked up his option in September, locking him in through 2026-27. That means any NHL team calling would need to pry him out of a live contract.
The case for him is simple hockey. He teaches structure, support routes, and defensive detail, which is exactly what unstable teams chase when their bench loses shape.
You can see why this clip hit so hard. It sounds less like random chatter and more like early positioning.
Re Manny Malhotra: "I can tell you, he's on the radars of a few different teams out there looking to either make or considering a coaching change for next season."
- David Pagnotta
- David Pagnotta
There is one complication. Abbotsford entered March 24 at 22-36-3-3, 50 points, and sat 10th in the Pacific after winning the Calder Cup last spring.
That record cuts both ways. Critics will point at the slide, but NHL teams often care more about teaching track record than one noisy AHL title defense.
Manny Malhotra fits NHL reset teams
A lot of fans will read that record and hesitate, and honestly, that reaction is fair.
But the deeper read still favors him. He already logged seven NHL seasons as an assistant, including four with the Toronto Maple Leafs, so he is not walking in cold.
That matters for teams considering a change behind the bench. They are not just hiring systems, they are hiring communication, player development, and room command.
Malhotra checks those boxes. He can help a club clean up its penalty kill, tighten low-zone coverage, and give young players defined jobs right away.
That is why Pagnotta's report has weight. Manny Malhotra feels like the next call for a team that wants more structure by opening night.
Also read on HockeyLatest :
Kris Knoblauch is right to answer as Oilers stars question coaching publicly
Kris Knoblauch is right to answer as Oilers stars question coaching publicly