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In the end, the Canucks absolutely had to part ways with Adam Foote
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Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
May 19, 2026, 15:45 EDTUpdated: May 19, 2026, 15:43 EDT
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It didn’t take long for the new Vancouver Canucks management group to make up their minds and fire Adam Foote. Realistically, it was two — maybe three if you count press conference day as day one — business days for Ryan Johnson, along with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, to land on the conclusion that Foote couldn’t continue as Canucks head coach.
That was absolutely the right decision, and it’s encouraging how quickly the trio acted.
When meeting with the media on Thursday at their introductory press conference, Canucks GM Ryan Johnson said it was unfair to judge Foote based on the circumstances he dealt with last season, but added that they would evaluate all departments in the coming days. That answer obviously left the door open for Foote to return, but the Canucks simply had to part ways with Foote.
Here’s what Johnson said in the release sent out to media on Tuesday morning:
“We would like to thank Adam, Scott, Kevin, and Brett for all the work they did for us this season. It was a challenging year on several fronts and truthfully, Adam and his staff were dealt a very difficult hand. That said, as we head into a rebuild, our group feels new coaching voices are needed to chart the path forward. Establishing the proper environment and culture is a vital first step in creating a solid and authentic connection throughout the entire organization. At the start of next season, our coaches will need to do a lot of work with our players, to instill in them the traits and habits they will rely on moving forward. The process to bring in a new staff begins immediately.”
Yes, Foote was dealt a tough hand. The entire Canucks roster was (what else do you call it when your captain jumps ship in November?). But Foote struggled to adapt or lead his team through the tough moments all season long. But Johnson is bang on about the need to establish the proper environment as a first step to building what the Canucks hope to build.
The Canucks looked lost at 5v5 all season, and the lack of success the Canucks found with Foote’s aggressive defensive zone system was especially concerning when you consider that most of the Canucks’ top prospects are defencemen.
Questionable personnel decisions were prevalent throughout the season. Nikita Tolopilo’s multi-week benching in the final weeks of the season, Evander Kane’s high 5v5 ice time and power play time, not to mention Teddy Blueger logging more minutes than a player like Marco Rossi down the stretch, all point towards Foote being a coach who didn’t sign up for a rebuild and didn’t have much ability to guide the Canucks through one.
The speed in which Canucks management acted suggests there wasn’t much convincing required for Canucks ownership to agree to eat the rest of Foote and his staff’s salaries, and pay an entirely new coaching staff to come aboard. That fact alone is incredibly encouraging.
Paying people not to work for you costs a lot. But turning management’s hope-instilled message of a new standard and new culture into lip service by not allowing them to fire Foote would have cost the rebuilding Canucks a whole lot more.

READ NEXT: Henrik Sedin talks timeline for a decision on Adam Foote, ownership’s commitment to a rebuild, and more

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