Canucks promote Adam Foote to head coach

The Vancouver Canucks named Adam Foote as the 22nd head coach in franchise history, the team announced Wednesday.

Foote joined the Canucks in 2022-23 as an assistant coach when Rick Tocchet was hired. He primarily worked with the team's defensemen and penalty kill unit. Foote has never been an NHL head coach.

Tocchet left the Vancouver Canucks in April after three seasons despite the club's efforts to extend him.

"Adam is a strong leader, good teacher, and person who knows what it takes to build a great culture and winning attitude," general manager Patrik Allvin said in a statement. "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 what it will take to get us back to where we want to be. Adam brings structure, accountability, and a detail-oriented approach to his coaching, a process that will send a clear message to our group about the way we want to compete, practice, and play hockey."

Foote is a two-time Stanley Cup champion and an Olympic gold medalist as a player. A bruising defenseman, Foote accumulated 308 points and 1,534 penalty minutes over his 1,154-game career with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, and Columbus Blue Jackets.

After his retirement, Foote was a development consultant with the Avalanche from 2013-17.

In 2018, the WHL's Kelowna Rockets hired Foote as their head coach. He spent two campaigns with the team, collecting a 48-49-12 record.

He didn't coach for two years after leaving the Rockets before joining Tocchet's staff in Vancouver.

The Canucks missed the playoffs last season with a 38-30-14 record.