Canucks elevate assistant Adam Foote to head coach - ESPN

The Vancouver Canucks have named Adam Foote as their new head coach, the team announced on Wednesday.

Foote, 53, had served as an assistant coach under head coach Rick Tocchet for the last three seasons. His only previous head coaching experience was one season behind the bench of the WHL Kelowna Rockets, going 29-28-6 in 63 games in 2019-20.

He's the 22nd head coach in franchise history. TSN reported Foote agreed to a 3-year deal.

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin announced today that the team has hired Adam Foote as the 22nd Head Coach in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/dJTDh8XoHb

Tocchet stepped down after his three-year contract expired at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season. The Canucks opted not to exercise their contact option on Tocchet, having instead offered him a large contract extension instead. Team president Jim Rutherford said the Canucks «did everything in our power» to retain Tocchet but that «he may have his mind somewhere else.»

Sources told ESPN on Wednesday that Tocchet will be the next head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, with whom he played for 11 seasons.

Foote won two Stanley Cups as a player with the Colorado Avalanche (1996 and 2001) and was considered one of the NHL's premiere defensive defensemen during his 19-season career. Foote also played for the Quebec Nordiques and Columbus Blue Jackets.

«His past experiences on the ice have translated nicely into a coaching style that fits our organization's goals and vision. He has worked extremely hard the past few years, gaining our players respect and trust for his strong communication and honest straight forward opinion. He knows this group better than anyone else we interviewed and has inside knowledge and understanding of