The Vancouver Canucks had a rough 2024-25 season. The locker room drama between players J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson led to the team's downfall in the standings. The season had promise at times but eventually, the Canucks would narrowly miss the playoffs.
After the season, the organization parted ways with head coach Rick Tocchet and replaced him with former NHLer Adam Foote. Can he get this team back to the playoffs?
Canucks look to retool
Foote's hiring may have come as a shock to some, but he has experience behind the bench and was a steady, successful defenseman during his playing career. He was hired as an assistant coach on Jan. 22, 2023 and has been with the organization ever since, building relationships with the players. Foote did have one previous head coaching job with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) from 2018-2020.
Vancouver finished the 2024-25 season with a 38-30-14 record for 90 points. The Canucks were fifth in the Pacific Division and did not qualify for the playoffs, but finished only six points behind the Western Conference wild card spot.
Their team stats also suffered, finishing 23rd in goals scored (233) and 15th in goals against (251). The power play was middle of the pack, as they were 15th in power play percentage (22.5%) but were among the best in penalty kill with an 82.6%, which ranked third in the league. Faceoff percentage was near the bottom at 23rd (48.9%).
Blockbuster trade coming?
Canucks defenseman and captain Quinn Hughes led the team with 78 points but has been the subject of trade rumors to join his brothers, Jack and Luke, in New Jersey with the Devils. Vancouver's President of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford suggested Hughes may want to be moved, as it would be easier to trade Quinn compared to the Devils dealing both Jack and Luke.
Foote wants a team that plays with the style he used to play with: aggressive and tough. However, Vancouver is not used to that style of play. They are not the biggest team and that could factor against them. Vancouver needs to play a physical style if they want to be effective and make the playoffs next season.
While this is Foote's first NHL head coaching job, he learned a lot from Tocchet, who was a Jack Adams winner as coach of the year in 2023-24. The problem Foote has is getting the team back to being motivated and believing in themselves. Last season had to be draining for the entire organization and they want to get back to winning hockey games again.
What will it take to get them back to the playoffs? Health is a big factor, and they have to hope the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, and Vegas Golden Knights drop off enough for them to make a push. The roster could look very similar to this year's lineup, but Brock Boeser is a big question mark as he becomes a free agent. Everyone on the roster will have to take it up a notch, including Hughes.
Foote is a good teacher and a student of the game so he could be a strong leader behind he bench. It may take awhile for them to get on the same page, but the roster still has enough talent to win games. A division title could be had in the future but a playoff spot is well within their grasp. Do not be surprised if we see a new coach bump and the Canucks get off to a good start in the new season.