The Vancouver Canucks have announced updates to their coaching staff, finalizing the group under new head coach Manny Malhotra. Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog have been named Assistant Coaches, while Andrew Shaw will serve as Assistant to the Video Coach.
General Manager Ryan Johnson emphasized the importance of assembling a quality coaching staff. He stated that the goal was to find individuals who are good teachers with intelligent hockey minds, capable of building a solid foundation, connecting with both veteran and younger players, and implementing Malhotra’s desired system and style of play. Johnson expressed excitement about welcoming Mougenel, Smith, and Shaw to Vancouver, and satisfaction with Krog’s promotion.
New Assistant Coaches Bring Diverse Experience
Ryan Mougenel joins the Canucks after eight seasons with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), including the last five as head coach. He was recently recognized with the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL Coach of the Year. During his tenure as head coach in Providence, Mougenel guided the Bruins to the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy with a record of 54-16-2-0 (110 points) in the most recent season, which was the fourth-highest points percentage in AHL history at .764. He was promoted to head coach on August 13, 2021, and compiled a record of 217-103-26-14 (.658) over the last five years, which was the best mark in the AHL during that period. Mougenel has coached a total of 13 seasons in the AHL, having previously served as an assistant in Hershey (2013-14), Worcester (2014-15), San Jose (2015-18), and Providence (2018-21).
Before his time in Providence, Mougenel spent four seasons within the San Jose Sharks organization, working as an Assistant Coach for the San Jose Barracuda (three seasons) and Worcester Sharks (one season). He also had one season with the Hershey Bears. His coaching career also includes eight seasons in the ECHL, initially as an Assistant Coach with the Fresno Falcons, followed by a dual role as Head Coach and General Manager for the Las Vegas Wranglers.
Prior to coaching, Mougenel played professional hockey for six seasons across the ECHL, AHL, and International Hockey League (IHL). He recorded 105 points (46-59-105) and 271 penalty minutes in 180 career ECHL games, winning the Kelly Cup with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2002-03. He also played in 20 AHL games, scoring one goal and accumulating two penalty minutes, and in 95 IHL games, where he registered 25 points (9-16-25) and 106 penalty minutes.
Jordan Smith spent the past two seasons as an Assistant Coach with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), where he contributed to the team’s Calder Cup victory in 2024-25. Before joining Abbotsford, he spent two seasons with the Springfield Thunderbirds (AHL). Smith’s coaching background also includes five seasons as an Associate Coach in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), split between the Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves. He was also the Head Coach of the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) from 2013-14 to 2016-17, where he was named the NOJHL Coach of the Year for two consecutive seasons (2013-14 and 2014-15) and led the Thunderbirds to an NOJHL Championship in 2015-16.
As a player, Smith played 60 career AHL games over two seasons with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Portland Pirates, accumulating 15 points (6-9-15) and 164 penalty minutes. He also played parts of four seasons in the OHL with the Soo Greyhounds, recording 68 points (13-55-68) and 398 penalty minutes in 211 games. He was selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the second round, 39th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Jason Krog has served as a Skills & Skating Coach for both the Vancouver Canucks and Abbotsford Canucks for the last two seasons. Before his current role, Krog spent time with the Burnaby Winter Club as both a Head Coach and Assistant Coach from 2021 to 2024, and as a Hockey Advisor to Simon Fraser University during the 2023-24 season.
Krog had an 18-season professional playing career after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Islanders on May 14, 1999. He played parts of nine seasons in the NHL with the Islanders, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks, tallying 59 points (22-37-59) and 46 penalty minutes in 202 career games. He also played parts of nine seasons in the AHL with teams including the Lowell Lock Monsters, Providence Bruins, Springfield Falcons, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, Chicago Wolves, and Manitoba Moose. In 535 career AHL games, Krog recorded 598 points (190-408-598) and 191 penalty minutes, winning the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s Most Valuable Player, the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL Playoff MVP, and the Calder Cup in 2007-08 with Chicago.
Andrew Shaw spent the previous two seasons with the Abbotsford Canucks as the team’s Video Coach, also contributing to their Calder Cup win in 2024-25. Before his time in Abbotsford, Shaw spent parts of five seasons with the Chilliwack Chiefs and Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). He held roles as Video Coach, Assistant Coach, and Associate Coach with Chilliwack, and Associate Coach with Prince George.
Shaw’s playing career included two seasons in junior hockey, appearing in 20 games with the Nipawin Hawks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) and 71 games with the Castlegar Rebels of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL), where he recorded 55 points (17-38-55). He also played one season at the University of the Fraser Valley (British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League), scoring 22 points (7-15-22) in 20 games.
Coaching Staff for 2026-27 Season
The full coaching staff for the Vancouver Canucks for the 2026-27 season includes:
- Manny Malhotra, Head Coach
- Ryan Mougenel, Assistant Coach
- Jordan Smith, Assistant Coach
- Jason Krog, Assistant Coach
- Marko Torenius, Goaltending Coach
- Ian Beckenstein, Video Coach
- Andrew Shaw, Assistant to the Video Coach
Former Assistant to the Video Coach Evan Mathias is no longer with the organization. The club thanked Mathias for his contributions.
The appointments were announced on July 10, 2026.
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Source: nhl.com
