Adam Foote Takes the Helm of the Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have announced Adam Foote as their new head coach, as reported this Wednesday.
Foote, 53, served as an assistant coach under Rick Tocchet for the past three seasons. His only previous experience as a head coach was one season at the helm of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, where he posted a 29-28-6 record in 63 games in the 2019-20 season.
Foote becomes the 22nd coach in the history of the franchise. It has been reported that Foote agreed to a 3-year contract.
Tocchet left the team after his three-year contract expired at the end of the 2024-25 season. The Canucks decided not to exercise their contract option on Tocchet, instead offering him a significant contract extension. Team president Jim Rutherford said the Canucks “did everything they could” to retain Tocchet, but that “he may have his mind elsewhere.”
Sources close to the team reported that Tocchet will be the next head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, a team he played for during 11 seasons.
Foote, in his playing days, won two Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche (1996 and 2001) and was considered one of the most outstanding defensive defensemen in the NHL during his 19-season career. In addition, Foote also played for the Quebec Nordiques and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“His past experiences on the ice have translated very well into a coaching style that fits the goals and vision of our organization. He has worked very hard in recent years, earning the respect and trust of our players for his strong communication and honest and direct feedback. He knows this group better than anyone we interviewed and has internal knowledge and understanding of what it will take to get us back to where we want to be,” said Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin.
Patrik Allvin, General Manager of the Canucks
Foote was not the only internal candidate interviewed for the Canucks’ head coaching position. Manny Malhotra, head coach of the AHL’s Abbotsford, was also considered.
Foote takes over a Canucks team that failed to make the playoffs after advancing to the second round in 2023-24. Vancouver has only reached the postseason twice in the last 10 NHL seasons. The Canucks face a series of questions heading into next season, from the future of free agent winger Brock Boeser to how to get 26-year-old star center Elias Pettersson back in offensive form. But Foote’s appointment could serve to address another of Vancouver’s uncertainties: the future of captain Quinn Hughes.
The defenseman is under contract through the 2026-27 season, but Rutherford recently sparked speculation that Hughes could eventually seek to leave Vancouver to play with his brothers Jack and Luke, who are currently with the New Jersey Devils.
“He said earlier that he wants to play with his brothers, and that would be partly out of our control,” Rutherford said.
Jim Rutherford
Foote spent the last two seasons working with the team’s defensemen. They were the two best seasons of Quinn Hughes’ NHL career, winning the Norris Trophy in 2023-24 and being a finalist for the award again this season. Now, the man who brought out the best in the captain stays on as his new head coach.
