Despite his crucial role as team captain, the Vancouver Canucks organization asserts that defenseman Quinn Hughes was not involved in the process to select the new head coach, Adam Foote.
At the introductory press conference for Adam Foote on Thursday, where he was formally presented as the team`s new head coach, both Foote and General Manager Patrik Allvin explicitly stated that the captain was not part of the decision-making. They also clarified that they did not speak with Hughes until after the hiring had been officially completed.
Foote and Hughes have cultivated a strong relationship since Foote joined the Canucks as an assistant coach in January 2023, where he served as a defensive coach under former head coach Rick Tocchet. Hughes had previously spoken highly of Foote, even calling him “the best coach I’ve ever had.”
While acknowledging their established connection from his time as an assistant, Foote emphasized that his relationship with Hughes moving forward will be consistent with the relationships he aims to build with every player on the roster.
Tristan Blackwood