Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Adam Foote, a defenseman for 19 NHL seasons, was named coach of the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday after serving as an assistant coach for the club the past three seasons. The 53-year-old Canadian replaces Rick Tocchet, who stepped down as Canucks coach on April 29 after Vancouver finished 38-30 with 14 overtime losses and six points behind St. Louis for the final Western Conference playoff berth.
The Canucks were a 50-game winner and division champion the season before, with Tocchet getting NHL coach of the year honors before exiting in the second round of the playoffs. “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 Patrik Allvin said. “His past experiences on the ice have translated nicely into a coaching style that fits our organization’s goals and vision. 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.”
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Foote, who retired as a player in 2011, won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996 and 2001 and helped Canada to 2002 Winter Olympic gold at Salt Lake City and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey title. The hiring leaves the Pittsburgh Penguins and Seattle Kraken with vacant NHL head coaching positions.
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