VANCOUVER — Although the Vancouver Canucks have a new head coach in Adam Foote, he emphasizes that the team ultimately belongs to its players.
According to Foote, the players must actively desire this ownership and be capable of setting and upholding expectations for accountability and standards within the team.
Speaking to Sportsnet, Foote shared that this philosophy of player responsibility was something he adopted during his playing career, particularly from Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy during the Colorado Avalanche`s first Stanley Cup victories. He speculated that Roy likely inherited this wisdom from legendary Montreal Canadiens figures Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey.
Since his promotion by Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin on May 14th – stepping in for Rick Tocchet, the NHL`s 2024 coach of the year, who departed after a turbulent season – Foote has been diligently working behind the scenes.
He has assembled a new coaching team, including experienced assistants Kevin Dean, Brett McLean, and Scott Young. However, his primary focus has been establishing communication with the players.
Shortly after taking the role, Foote met with key players such as captain Quinn Hughes, goaltender Thatcher Demko, and alternate captain Elias Pettersson (who traveled from Sweden specifically for the meeting). He has also held virtual meetings with the broader Canucks leadership group.
Additional virtual discussions are planned for the summer.
Foote clarified, “It`s not something instant; it`s a process. The leadership group, that core… they need to manage themselves. As I said, it`s their room. They are responsible for holding one another accountable and pushing each other to perform.”
