Canucks name Adam Foote next head coach

May 14, 2025, 13:12 EDT

Credit: Jan 18, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote on the bench against the Edmonton Oilers in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Vancouver Canucks have named Adam Foote as their next head coach ahead of the 2025-26 NHL season, the club announced on Wednesday.

The role is Foote’s first as an NHL head coach, having previously served as a defensive coach with the Colorado Avalanche from 2011-2017, and as an assistant coach with the Canucks on Rick Tocchet’s staff over the last two seasons.

According to Check TV’s Rick Dhaliwal, Foote is signed to a three-year deal with the club.

While he may not have experience as an NHL bench boss, Foote served as the head coach of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets from 2018-2020, helping lead their rebuild before being let go after posting a 57-60-6-5 record.

Foote, now 53, enjoyed a lengthy career as an NHL defenseman, playing 19 seasons with the Quebec Nordiques, Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets. Through 1154 career NHL games, he posted 66 goals and 308 points.

He will now remain with a Canucks organization that allowed him to speak with other teams after Tocchet decided to move on. Reports suggested that during Vancouver’s coaching search, the finalists came down to him and Abbotsford Canucks head coach Manny Malholtra.

Vancouver’s head coaching position was left vacant on April 29, after Tocchet announced his departure from the team, after failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 38-30-24 record, a dip from Vancouver’s run to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2023-24.

“Adam is a strong leader, good teacher and person who knows what it takes to build a great culture and winning attitude,” Canucks General Manager Patrick Allvin said in a release. “His past experiences on the ice have translated nicely into a coaching style that fits our organization’s goals and vision.”

Foote is reportedly close with Canucks captain and top blueliner Quinn Hughes, who publicly spoke as a massive fan of Tocchet, and wanted him to return. However, Hughes has also spoken glowingly about Foote in the past.

The Canucks will look to bounce back when they hit they ice in 2025-26, with puck drop on the NHL regular season set for Oct. 7.