As the Vancouver Canucks prepare to shape a new era under freshly appointed head coach Adam Foote, the spotlight turns not just to the bench boss himself—but to who will stand beside him. Building a strong, balanced coaching staff will be Foote’s first major task, and an intriguing name has emerged as a potential cornerstone: Brad Shaw.
Shaw, 61, recently parted ways with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he served as associate coach and briefly stepped in as interim head coach following the dismissal of John Tortorella. Though he came up short in securing the Flyers’ top job—losing out to former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet—Shaw remains one of the most respected assistant coaches in the NHL, particularly for his work with defensemen.
Foote, a former NHL blueliner himself, is reportedly seeking to add one offensively oriented and one defensively focused assistant to his staff. Shaw fits the latter profile perfectly. His time in Philadelphia was marked by a notable revival of underperforming players like Rasmus Ristolainen and Travis Sanheim, as well as the development of young talents such as Cam York and Egor Zamula.
This wouldn’t be Shaw’s first tour of duty in Vancouver. He previously served as an assistant coach during the 2021–22 season under Travis Green, giving him both familiarity with the Canucks organization and firsthand experience of its often turbulent dynamics. That background could prove valuable, especially if Foote, a first-time NHL head coach, faces growing pains. Should a midseason shift be needed, Shaw’s experience could make him a logical choice as an interim replacement—again.
The question is: would Shaw be interested?
Though he is viewed as one of the league’s top assistant coaching options, Shaw’s name continues to surface in head coaching conversations. At 61, the window to land a full-time head coaching gig may be narrowing, which could make a stable, strategic role under Foote more appealing—especially in a market like Vancouver, where opportunity and scrutiny are always closely intertwined.
According to NHL insider Andy Strickland, multiple teams are expressing interest in Shaw. That level of demand gives him the luxury of choice—whether to chase a head coaching opportunity or join a staff where he could have significant influence, both in strategy and in succession.
For the Canucks, bringing back Brad Shaw could offer both immediate defensive structure and a steady hand behind the bench. For Shaw, Vancouver might represent unfinished business—or the perfect place to make one last major impact.
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