​This offseason, several teams looked to the American Hockey League for their new NHL leaders, bringing in head coaches with proven track records in the minors. The biggest splash was Manny Malhotra, who left Abbotsford to take the helm of the Vancouver Canucks, while Ryan Craig stepped up from coaching the Henderson Silver Knights to guide the Vegas Golden Knights. After these high-profile moves, a wave of assistants followed, as is common in the offseason, filling NHL benches across the league. Here’s a look at the hires and what each coach is expected to bring to their new teams.
Ryan Mougenel had been named coach of the year in the AHL, steering the Providence Bruins to the league’s best record this season. He spent five years with the Bruins, playing a pivotal role in cultivating a winning culture that helped develop several of the organization’s top prospects. Mougenel’s track record signals a strong pillar for the Canucks’ rebuilding effort, particularly as the team emphasizes a youth-driven direction. The Canucks’ decision to bring in Malhotra and Mougenel in quick succession underscores a broader strategy of infusing fresh, development-minded leadership at the NHL level.
One trend that has garnered discussion is the AHL’s 3-in-3 era, where teams would play three games in three days, typically over a weekend. That format was once common but has become a rarity, and recent schedule releases have highlighted the shift away from it. The Canucks’ hiring of Malhotra, a young coach with an AHL background, aligns with a broader push toward youthful, energetic leadership in the organization as they steer through a rebuild.
Among notable AHL coaching successes is Rocky Thompson’s turnaround of the Bridgeport Islanders. Before Thompson’s arrival, the team endured one of the worst seasons in the league; under his guidance, the Islanders bought into his system and transformed into a competitive unit, finishing with the fourth-best record in the Atlantic Division. The organization rewarded Thompson with a promotion, a move that highlights the value teams place on coaching influence in the AHL as a pipeline to the NHL. Thompson now colleagues with head coach Pete DeBoer, having previously served as his assistant with the San Jose Sharks, illustrating how strong coaching pedigrees in the AHL frequently translate to opportunities in the NHL.
For the Columbus Blue Jackets, the offseason brought particularly welcome news. Trent Vogelhuber, a rising star among AHL coaches, had already guided the Cleveland Monsters to multiple successful campaigns, and his promotion to the NHL was widely anticipated. Hailing from Ohio, Vogelhuber’s deep local ties and long-standing commitment to developing players in his home state position him as a natural heir to Rick Bowness’s franchise duties. His local roots and proven leadership suggest a bright future for the organization as it aims to build a sustainable winner.
Pascal Vincent represents another strong example of AHL excellence translating upward. During his tenure with the Laval Rocket, Vincent earned AHL Coach of the Year honors in 2025 and led the Rocket to the best record in the North Division across both seasons. Vincent’s experience and track record in the AHL make him a solid addition for the Seattle Kraken, where his NHL experience and proven coaching acumen should synergize with the team’s existing staff. Vincent’s presence adds depth to Seattle’s leadership and reinforces the value of strong AHL-to-NHL coaching pipelines.
Overall, this offseason’s coaching moves reinforce a broader trend: NHL teams continue to tap into the AHL’s deep well of successful, development-oriented coaches who can guide young players and establish a strong organizational culture. The hires of Malhotra, Mougenel, Thompson, Vogelhuber, and Vincent reflect a shared belief that the best way to accelerate an NHL team’s progress is to prioritize coaching leadership that emphasizes player development, adaptability, and a clear, modern approach to the game. With these changes, several teams are positioned to benefit from fresh perspectives, a more cohesive system, and the continued emergence of the next generation of NHL head coaches.