Vancouver Canucks fire head coach Adam Foote after one NHL season
The Vancouver Canucks have fired head coach Adam Foote and his three assistants following a dismal campaign that saw them finish with the worst record in the NHL.
New general manager Ryan Johnson initiated the comprehensive coaching change just five days after formally taking charge of the struggling Canadian franchise.
Assistant coaches Scott Young, Kevin Dean and Brett McLean were also relieved of their duties as part of a sweeping organisational overhaul.
The 54-year-old former Colorado Avalanche defenceman departs after compiling a severely underwhelming 25-49-8 record during his solitary campaign at the helm.
Rebuilding phase prompts leadership change
Johnson acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding the outgoing staff but insisted that a fresh perspective is entirely necessary for the team’s impending rebuild.
“It was a challenging year on several fronts and truthfully, Adam and his staff were dealt a very difficult hand,” Johnson stated.
“That said, as we head into a rebuild, our group feels new coaching voices are needed to chart the path forward.”
The two-time Stanley Cup winner was initially promoted to the top job by former general manager Patrik Allvin after serving as an assistant under Rick Tocchet.
There was widespread speculation that his initial appointment was designed to appease star defenceman Quinn Hughes, though the highly rated American was ultimately traded to the Minnesota Wild in December.
Internal candidate emerges as early favourite
The process to identify a permanent replacement begins immediately, with Abbotsford Canucks boss Manny Malhotra emerging as a leading internal candidate.
The 46-year-old recently guided Vancouver’s top minor league affiliate to a Calder Cup victory while working closely alongside Johnson in the American Hockey League.
This latest shake-up concludes a dramatic week of restructuring for the Pacific Division club.
Hockey Hall of Famers Daniel and Henrik Sedin have assumed co-president roles, while former president Jim Rutherford has transitioned into a senior advisory position.