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Q&A: Manny Malhotra on Maple Leafs job, Steve Nash, Vancouver lessons – Sportsnet.ca

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4 years ago

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TORONTO – Manny Malhotra has just been tossed the keys to a Ferrari.

The Toronto Maple Leafs offence — one of the youngest, fastest and most combustible front engines hockey has to offer — will have a fresh set of hands tinkering under the hood.

The club announced Thursday its hiring of the former player to Sheldon Keefe’s bench, where the 991-game NHL veteran will fill the role vacated by Paul McFarland at the conclusion of the season.

Malhotra arrives in Toronto with the blessing of the Vancouver Canucks, the club he served as an “eye in the sky” assistant during games while working on-ice in development for three seasons.

“Manny’s such an awesome guy. He really cares about each individual he works with on the ice,” Vancouver’s Brock Boeser told reporters. “I’m really happy for Manny, and I think he’s going to do a great job.”

Upon learning of his promotion to bench coach, we caught up with an excited Malhotra over the phone Thursday afternoon for a quick, 10-minute chat about his new gig and the philosophy he’s taken from those who coached him.

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SPORTSNET.CA: The Maple Leafs weren’t the only team that asked permission from the Canucks to speak with you. What factored into your decision to come here? How much did an emotional pull of returning to the Toronto area play into it?

MANNY MALHOTRA: Growing up in Toronto there is, you obviously understand the gravitational pull that the Leafs have on the community. So, that was somewhat weighed into my decision. But more so, after speaking to Sheldon and Kyle [Dubas] about the opportunity and the role here and where the group was and where they were headed, I felt it was a great opportunity to advance my coaching career with a really good organization, with a really good staff, and then a team that has been trending in the right direction. All of those things factored in for me. But it was a great opportunity to advance, I felt.

SN: What was the greatest thing you learned from your role in Vancouver?

MM: I learned a great deal from Travis in terms of the way to think the game. I keep saying how detail-oriented he is as a coach. His ability to analyze things. Even the most minute things that you wouldn’t think would be an issue or come into a play, then all of a sudden you see it happening two or three or four times in a game, and it’ll be the difference in a game. You learn that you can’t leave any stone unturned, as a coach.

But the other thing for me, I’ve learned that it’s not always about the X’s and O’s with players.

Each individual is different. They all learn differently. They’re all motivated by different things. So, it’s important for me to understand the person and get to know them as an individual to find out who they are, what’s their makeup before we can get into the X’s and O’s of the game. That’s a big thing for me, the communication aspect of things. And from there, you learn how to get information to players. That’s part of coaching that I really enjoyed, learning about guys and learning what makes them tick.

Hockey Central

Maple Leafs bring Manny Malhotra aboard to assist Sheldon Keefe

September 17 2020

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SN: How significant is the advantage for you, at 40 years old, not being so far removed from your own playing days?

MM: It definitely does help in a certain regard, in terms of knowing what players might be thinking in certain situations on the ice, or knowing what they may be going through at a certain time of the year. But there’s definitely been a switch for me from thinking as a player, which is incredibly advantageous, being in and around the guys and knowing what they’re going through. But it’s important to think like a coach and think beyond the right now. You’re thinking ahead. You’re thinking, two, three days ahead. You’re thinking to the next shift, to the next period. So, there has been a shift, but that player mentality will always come in helpful.

SN: I imagine you’ve done some studying of the Leafs’ offence and their power play in particular. What areas do you see for improvement? Can you give an example of one idea you can bring to the table?

MM: It’s been a very quick four or five days [of switching focus to Toronto from Vancouver]. And not having had a chance to see too much film on the team, it’s tough to give a definitive answer. Looking from the outside, obviously, you recognize the talent of the group and the potential of the group. What I want to get into in the next few weeks is just looking at that video, understanding a little bit more about their game and how we can improve and where we can improve. A lot of that comes from discussions with Sheldon and Hak [assistant Dave Hakstol] and then seeing where those improvements can take place.

SN: Have you had many coaching discussions with your brother-in-law Steve Nash? And were you at all surprised he took the Brooklyn Nets job?

MM: No, I wasn’t surprised. I have a lot of really good talks with both him and his [younger] brother Martin, who’s a soccer coach, and both of them are incredibly intelligent when it comes to sports and understanding not just the X’s and O’s but philosophies and concepts and ideas and traits of successful people. So, I’ve found a lot of help in just chatting with those guys. Obviously it’s different sports, but there’s a lot of things that carry over to sports in general that we discuss.

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Dan Murphy: Golfing with Stecher and Petersson, Manny Malhotra to the Leafs and player contracts

September 17 2020

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Who’s the best coach you ever had?

MM: I go back and forth a little bit. I will say Ken Hitchcock is one of the most intelligent hockey people I’ve ever come across. Part of that is the fact that he’s never played the game at a high level. To be able to understand the game the way he has, never being in those situations, is remarkable. And then playing for Todd McLellan, he also had that really in-depth knowledge of the game. But his communication skills, for me, are what set him apart from a lot of coaches. His ability to make you understand things very clearly and concisely. There’s no grey area with him, and for that reason, I felt he was one of the better coaches that I’ve ever played for.

One day down the road, do you see yourself as a head coach in the NHL? Is that the ultimate goal?

MM: Step by step. I want to experience this. Like I said, this is the next step in my growth. I had a great chance to be the eye in the sky here in Vancouver. I learned a great deal. This is the next step, the next chapter. I want to do as good as a job as I can here in this role and maximize that. For me, the focus is right now and doing a good job at the role that has been given to me.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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November 8, 2024

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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November 8, 2024

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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November 8, 2024

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

—

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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