Vancouver’s 2026 training camp in Penticton concluded with a strong emphasis on urgency, accountability and being difficult to play against under first-time head coach Manny Malhotra.
The Story
The Vancouver Canucks have completed their 2026 training camp after four days of on-ice work in Penticton, B.C., bringing an end to Manny Malhotra’s first camp as an NHL head coach. The team spent the final stretches building its game-group and practice-group structure through a set of practice sessions designed to simulate competition and sharpen day-to-day execution.
Malhotra, 46, said the camp progressed in line with how the coaching staff planned to run the practices, describing a focus on getting the intended work done rather than allowing drills to drift. He also emphasized that the players were responsive to the session plan, including during the transition between skating, travel and returning to work again across the camp schedule.
A notable feature of the Penticton camp was the presence of multiple conditioning skates, with Malhotra and his staff joining players after practices concluded. The coach described this as part of the overall tone he wanted to reinforce during the week, and he highlighted the adaptability he saw from the group as concepts were introduced and then put into action.
Although camp is often a period of adjustment, Malhotra pointed to what he described as preparation carried over from earlier in September. He said that many of the players had already been in Vancouver for informal skates at the start of the month, and that this early commitment helped reduce any delay when formal training camp began.
According to Malhotra, the Canucks’ schedule this season also shaped expectations going into camp. He noted there was not a longer ramp-up window created by multiple exhibition games, and instead the group’s decision to come in early for additional skates and touches contributed to a quicker readiness once the camp process started.
Another theme Malhotra raised was messaging within the organization, including the involvement of the Sedin twins and Ryan Johnson. He said the emphasis was on making the team hard to play against regardless of the eventual score, framing effort and structure as central parts of the group’s identity rather than results alone.
Speaking about buy-in, Malhotra said players appeared aligned on the same priorities and that effort levels during practices reflected that commitment. He also described the group as receptive during corrective moments, saying players wanted to improve and that the teaching and adjustments were met with engagement rather than resistance.
From a coaching standpoint, Malhotra said the Penticton week served as a learning experience because it was his first NHL camp in charge of the entire process. He reflected on how drills could be analyzed and refined after each day, including tweaking timing details, and he pointed to the logistical effort involved in managing the number of bodies and ensuring every topic was addressed across practices.
As the training camp ended, the Canucks prepared to return to Rogers Arena in Vancouver ahead of the 2026-27 season. The team’s next stretch includes three pre-season games and additional roster decisions, with further cuts expected in the days leading up to September 29.
The Canucks’ pre-season and roster activity is now set against the backdrop of Malhotra’s first camp as head coach, with the group’s readiness and practice structure standing out during the Penticton week. Training camp also set the stage for the season opener, which the team is set to begin against the Edmonton Oilers after the pre-season schedule is completed and roster cuts are finalized.
← More stories