On Tuesday afternoon, news broke that Rick Tocchet will not be returning as head coach of the Vancouver Canucks next season. Now, it’s looking like we may see a whole new team behind the bench come September.

According to Donnie & Dhali’s Rick Dhaliwal, Canucks assistant coach Adam Foote’s contract is up and he is now believed to have permission to speak with other teams about a potential coaching position.

Foote was hired midway through the 2022-23 season alongside Tocchet, after the firing of Bruce Boudreau and assistant coach Trent Cull in the midst of a dismal year for the Canucks. Along with Tocchet, Foote helped lead Vancouver to their first Pacific Division title and first playoff appearance in four years, where they took the eventual Stanley Cup finalist Edmonton Oilers to a seven-game series in the second round.

Unfortunately, things regressed this year, as the Canucks battled injury troubles, locker room drama, and a major roster shakeup, leading to another missed postseason berth. It’s clear lots more change is on the way for this Vancouver roster, and the coaching staff will be a part of that. Overall, working under Tocchet, Foote oversaw the Canucks to a 88-53-23 record through his tenure. Tocchet was the one that brought Foote to Vancouver, and given how much respect the two have for one another, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Foote go wherever Tocchet does.

The Vancouver Canucks now join the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken in the coaching search. This also means these are all possible destinations Foote, along with Tocchet, could be considering right now for their future in the league. Foote previously served as head coach for the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League, but has never held the title at the NHL level, and could be interested in making the jump. From 2011 to 2017, he was the defensive coach for the Colorado Avalanche

A former defenceman, Foote’s NHL career spanned nearly 20 years. The Toronto native was originally drafted by the Quebec Nordiques, and as of his retirement in 2011, he was the last remaining member from that franchise. He won an Olympic Gold medal with Team Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City games, and two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche, bringing a wealth of winning experience wherever he goes.