VANCOUVER — Despite being the new coach of the Vancouver Canucks, Adam Foote asserts that the team is not his; its ownership lies with the players.
However, this responsibility must be willingly accepted by the players, who must then be capable of implementing and upholding accountability and certain standards, Foote explained.
In an interview with Sportsnet, Foote shared that this conviction was something he embraced during his own playing career. He learned it from the legendary Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy while they were winning Stanley Cups with the Colorado Avalanche. Foote suggested that Roy likely inherited this philosophy from Montreal Canadiens icons such as Larry Robinson and Bob Gainey.
Since his promotion by Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin on May 14 – stepping into the role after Rick Tocchet, the NHL`s 2024 coach of the year, decided to leave the organization following a challenging season – Foote has been diligently working behind the scenes.
He has assembled a new coaching staff, bringing in experienced assistants Kevin Dean, Brett McLean, and Scott Young. Nevertheless, his primary focus has been connecting with the players.
Shortly after his appointment, Foote met with team captain Quinn Hughes and goalie Thatcher Demko in Detroit. Alternate captain Elias Pettersson also flew in from Sweden on short notice specifically for a meeting. Foote has also conducted virtual sessions with the broader leadership group of the Canucks.
Further online discussions are scheduled to take place throughout the summer.
“It`s not something that happens instantly; it`s a gradual process,” Foote remarked. He emphasized the role of the leadership group: “That group, the leadership group… they are responsible for managing themselves. It’s their space, right? They need to hold each other accountable. They need to motivate and push each other.”
Tristan Blackwood