The Vancouver Canucks are approaching a pivotal decision in the aftermath of potentially losing head coach Rick Tocchet. While the situation was driven by external circumstances beyond the team’s control, what comes next is entirely in their hands. And according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, one of the names gaining traction as a possible successor is current assistant coach Adam Foote.
“I think Adam Foote would have a serious chance there in Vancouver,” Friedman said on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “He’s a really smart guy… and he’s really helped Quinn Hughes improve as a player. They bounce things off each other very well.”
There’s no question that Foote’s influence on Hughes—arguably the team’s most important player—has been meaningful. The captain has previously endorsed both Tocchet and Foote publicly, and it’s clear the Canucks front office is aware of that relationship.
But the idea of elevating Foote to the top coaching position comes with its own risks. While he boasts an illustrious playing career and hockey pedigree, his head coaching résumé is limited. His only head coaching experience came at the junior level with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL, a role that ended with his dismissal in the second year. In terms of professional-level head coaching, Foote remains untested.
This raises a broader question: Are the Canucks trying to maintain continuity, or are they falling into the same comfort-driven traps that have hindered the organization in the past?
Vancouver has often prioritized short-term appeasement—of players, of fans, of locker room chemistry—over long-term vision. Giving Hughes a say in leadership is not inherently bad, but building a coaching hire around him, especially when his long-term commitment to the franchise beyond 2027 is uncertain, is a gamble. Hughes deserves to be supported, but not at the expense of structural progress or accountability.
This decision isn’t just about Foote. It’s about whether the Canucks have the courage to pursue a bold, experienced coach who can shepherd the team through a critical phase of development. Vancouver is hovering between competing and rebuilding, and the wrong hire could leave them stuck in neutral—squandering precious seasons in the prime of their core players.
If Foote is indeed hired, it will be a decision that reveals how much the Canucks have truly learned from their past. Will they chart a new course with strategic vision, or revert to a pattern of familiarity and reactive moves?
Only time—and results—will tell.
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