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Vancouver Canucks Looking at Some Big Names to Become Assistant Coach to Adam Foote
Photo credit: NHL
Some potential assistant coaching candidates have emerged as possibilities to join Adam Foote's staff with the Vancouver Canucks starting this fall.
Less than two weeks after the Vancouver Canucks' 2024-25 season came to a close, the team got work from Rick Tocchet that he would not be returning as their Head Coach next season in order to pursue a new opportunity and ultimately, ended up with his former club, the Philadelphia Flyers.
The same day that Tocchet became the bench boss in Philadelphia, the Vancouver Canucks promoted Adam Foote, making him their 22nd Head Coach in franchise history and will now be looking to add to his staff in the weeks ahead.
Assistant Coach options begin to emerge for the Vancouver Canucks
During Adam Foote's press conference in Vancouver last week, both him and General Manager Patrik Allvin confirmed to reporters that the team will be looking to add two new Assistant Coaches to his staff.
Foote is looking to bring in someone to take over his responsibilities on the defensive side of things, while also adding an offensive coach to work with the forwards and the power play.
"Patrick Allvin and Adam Foote say they expect to add two coaches to the #Canucks staff. Foote says he would like a defensive and an offensive coach." Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650 said.
In a recent mail bag article on Canucks Army, Jeff Paterson was asked who the team could bring in to fill one of the Assistant Coach roles, primarily someone who could be a fit to work with the offense and power play units, the latter of which finished 15th in the NHL in 2024-25 with a 22.2 percent success rate.
Paterson says that Gerard Gallant, Dallas Eakins, Tony Granato and even former Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Marc Crawford have been suggested in recent days as options for the club.
"There have been lots of suggestions in the days since Adam Foote was promoted. Marc Crawford, Tony Granato, Dallas Eakins, how about Gerard Gallant? Foote played for Gallant in Columbus and it's fair to wonder how badly Gallant wants back into the NHL having been out of the league for a couple of seasons now." Paterson said.
Paterson also believes that it would be in the Canucks' best interest to someone with NHL Head Coaching experience in an assistant role to help Adam Foote on the bench as he gets his first opportunity as a bench boss in the league.
"I do think it makes perfect sense for Foote and the Canucks to find someone with NHL head coaching experience to be the top assistant. Most NHL benches are constructed that way these days." Paterson said.
Ideally, the Vancouver Canucks will get this wrapped up sooner rather than later as some of those names above, primarily Gerard Gallant, will be candidates for other vacancies around the National Hockey League over the coming weeks.
Source: Jeff Paterson/Canucks Army
JPat's Monday Canucks Mailbag: How different will things be under Adam Foote?
JPat's Monday Canucks Mailbag: How different will things be under Adam Foote?
Previously on Vancouver Hockey Daily
| POLL | ||
MAI 19 | 1112 ANSWERS Vancouver Canucks Looking at Some Big Names to Become Assistant Coach to Adam Foote Who would you rather see join the Vancouver Canucks as an Assistant Coach next season? | ||
| Marc Crawford | 425 | 38.2 % |
| Gerard Gallant | 397 | 35.7 % |
| Tony Granato | 180 | 16.2 % |
| Dallas Eakins | 110 | 9.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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