Canucks finalize coaching staff additions
The Vancouver Canucks have announced several updates to their coaching staff, bringing in Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog as assistant coaches, with Andrew Shaw joining as assistant to the video coach. This move finalizes the coaching group under Head Coach Manny Malhotra. General Manager Ryan Johnson stated that the organization prioritized finding quality individuals who are good teachers and possess intelligent hockey minds to build a solid foundation and implement the desired system and style of play.
Johnson expressed enthusiasm for the new additions, welcoming Mougenel, Smith, and Shaw to Vancouver, and noting Krog’s well-deserved promotion. The new coaching staff is expected to connect with both veteran and younger players within the organization.
Experience from across leagues
Ryan Mougenel arrives in Vancouver after eight seasons with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he served as head coach for the last five seasons. He was recently honoured with the Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL Coach of the Year. During his tenure, he guided the Bruins to the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy with a record of 54-16-2-0, achieving the fourth-highest points percentage in AHL history. Mougenel’s coaching career also includes four seasons with the San Jose Sharks organization, as an assistant coach for the San Jose Barracuda and Worcester Sharks, and a season with the Hershey Bears. Before his AHL experience, he spent eight seasons in the ECHL, including a dual role as Head Coach and General Manager for the Las Vegas Wranglers. Mougenel’s playing career spanned six seasons in the ECHL, AHL, and International Hockey League (IHL), where he captured the Kelly Cup with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2002-03.
Jordan Smith spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with the Abbotsford Canucks (AHL), contributing to the team’s Calder Cup victory in 2024-25. His time in Abbotsford followed 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) with the Soo Greyhounds and Sudbury Wolves. He also served as Head Coach for the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League (NOJHL) from 2013-14 to 2016-17, where he was named NOJHL Coach of the Year for two consecutive seasons and led the Thunderbirds to an NOJHL Championship in 2015-16. As a player, Smith appeared in 60 career AHL games and 211 OHL games, and was selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Promotions and new roles
Jason Krog, who previously served as a Skills & Skating Coach for both the Vancouver Canucks and Abbotsford Canucks for the past two seasons, has been promoted to assistant coach. Before his coaching roles, Krog played professionally for 18 seasons, including parts of nine seasons in the NHL with teams such as the Islanders, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Atlanta Thrashers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks. He also played in parts of nine seasons in the AHL, where he won 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 the Chicago Wolves.
Andrew Shaw joins as Assistant to the Video Coach, having spent the last two seasons as the Video Coach for the Abbotsford Canucks, also contributing to their 2024-25 Calder Cup win. Prior to Abbotsford, Shaw spent time with the Chilliwack Chiefs and Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) in various coaching capacities. The coaching staff for the 2026-27 season will include Manny Malhotra as Head Coach, Ryan Mougenel, Jordan Smith, and Jason Krog as Assistant Coaches, Marko Torenius as Goaltending Coach, Ian Beckenstein as Video Coach, and Andrew Shaw as Assistant to the Video Coach.
Former Assistant to the Video Coach Evan Mathias is no longer with the organization.
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Source: nhl.com
