Can the former Colorado Avalanche legend fix the mess in Vancouver as their new bench boss
Photo credit: TerraceStandard.com
The Vancouver Canucks have recently named former Colorado Avalanche captain and legend Adam Foote as their next head coach.
The only question that should be asked now is if Foote is the solution to fixing a broken Canucks team?
Former Colorado Avalanche legend Adam Foote will have his hands full trying to fix the situation in Vancouver.
Last Thursday, Foote said that he had learned a great deal from former Canucks' head coach Rick Tocchet, who gave him his first pro assistant coaching job in January 2023 after a period away from the game, writes Patrick Johnston from The Province.
At that time, Foote's resume was fairly limited. He had a modest stint coaching in Kelowna for a season and a half, and his experience up to that point included roles as a development coach and a youth hockey coach.
However, Foote didn't coach during the two seasons prior to joining the Canucks. According to Tocchet, Foote made significant strides as a coach during his 2.5 seasons with the team, learning how to run efficient practices and becoming a steady, calming presence for his players.
Following Foote's first media appearance as the Canucks' head coach, Tocchet shared that he had emphasized the importance of collaboration in his discussions with his former assistant.
«Really empower your staff. When you're an assistant, you're focused on your own stuff. But when you're in charge, when you've got staff, give them the space. There might be things they know better than you, you have to feel comfortable in that.» -Tochett
The Canucks followed up a strong 2023-24 campaign with a disappointing 2024-25 season. Poor decisions in offseason player recruitment hurt the roster, while the coaching staff struggled to manage tensions between Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller.
For Foote, the solution to the difficult situation he's inherited is straightforward...begin with a clean slate.
«We're going to turn the page. I'm my own person. Learned a lot from a lot of great hockey people on my journey. And we have ideas, and we're going to apply them and get a game plan going here and move on.» -Foote
Johnston also writes that another important lesson Tocchet imparted to Foote, one that Foote quickly embraced, was the importance of being a steady, calming presence. Tocchet, known for his intensity as a player, realized that as a coach, maintaining composure was essential to achieving success.
"Top of the list, of course, is getting Pettersson back to where he needs to be. His been a star player before, but had a brutal season. The rift with Miller clearly affected him. He never really got his game going, even after Miller was traded in January." -Johnston
We'll just have to wait and see if Foote is the right man for the job in Vancouver. One thing is certain, he'll have his hands full trying to turn this team into a playoff contender.
Previously on Avalanche Insider
| POLL | ||
MAI 19 | 15 ANSWERS Can the former Colorado Avalanche legend fix the mess in Vancouver as their new bench boss Do you think Adam Foote can turn things around in Vancouver as their new head coach? | ||
| yes | 12 | 80 % |
| no | 3 | 20 % |
| List of polls | ||
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