Vancouver Canucks head coach Adam Foote has finalized his coaching staff with three new appointments.
The team announced Thursday that Kevin Dean, previously an assistant coach with the Chicago Blackhawks, Brett McLean, formerly a head coach in the American Hockey League, and Scott Young, who served as Vancouver’s director of player personnel, have all been named assistant coaches.
“The coaching search was a very thorough process as we wanted to find the best fit for our hockey club,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin stated in a release.
“Once Adam was hired, we set out on selecting a team of assistant coaches who are good teachers, good communicators, and good people. Footey has done a great job in assembling a well-rounded staff with a strong mix of experience and position-specific expertise. I am excited to watch this group come together and am ready to support them in every way I can to help them prepare for the upcoming season.”
Meet the New Assistants:
Dean, aged 56, joins Vancouver after spending three seasons as an assistant coach with the Blackhawks. He was also part of the coaching staff for the United States team that won a gold medal at the 2025 world championships last month, a team that included Canucks forwards Conor Garland and Drew O`Connor.
Known for his expertise in defense, Dean will oversee Vancouver`s penalty kill unit, as Foote confirmed to reporters Thursday.
“I knew within the second or third phone call that this was the guy for us,” Foote commented during a phone call from Toronto. “I`m very excited about him being down that side of the bench and letting him do his thing. I think he`ll do a great job with our d corps.”
McLean will take responsibility for the power play, Foote added.
The 46-year-old McLean joins the Canucks after two years as head coach of the Iowa Wild, Minnesota Wild`s AHL affiliate. Before that, he served three seasons as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Wild. McLean also had an extensive 18-season professional playing career across various leagues, including the NHL.
Young will function as Vancouver`s “glue guy,” assisting with multiple facets of the team, according to Foote.
Young has been with the Canucks organization for three seasons and previously spent five years as the director of player development for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
He enjoyed a 17-year playing career in the NHL, winning Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh in 1991 and Colorado in 1996.
The Canucks also announced Thursday that assistant coach Yogi Svejkovsky, defensive development coach Sergei Gonchar, and video coach Dylan Crawford will not be returning for the next season.
These staff changes follow the departure of former head coach Rick Tocchet in April. Adam Foote, who had been an assistant coach under Tocchet for two years, was subsequently promoted to head coach.
Tocchet was later named head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Svejkovsky will join him there.
“There`s zero hard feelings. Yogi is a friend of mine,” Foote stated. “Rick developed me, developed him. And if that`s where he`s going to feel more comfortable … that is just fine.”
Dean, McLean, and Young join a Canucks staff that includes player development coaches Daniel and Henrik Sedin, goaltending coach Marko Torenius, assistant video coach Ian Beckenstein, and skills and skating coach Jason Krog.
The team is still looking to add another video coach, Foote mentioned.
Tristan Blackwood