Last week, the Vancouver Canucks named Adam Foote their new head coach, but have not confirmed who will join him behind the bench. From those already inside the organization to those who have coached in Vancouver in the past, there is no shortage of assistant coach candidates the Canucks could call upon to help Foote out.
What Exactly the Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Wants
In his first media availability after being named the franchise’s new head coach, Foote made note of what qualities he’s looking for from his assistant coaches. Experience isn’t an issue, he just wants the best.
“If our staff believes that the guy that we want is the best and best for our situation, and works with me, that’s who I want to go with,” Foote explained. “Whether he’s got five years, three years, or 15.”
Despite this, Foote knows that the Canucks lacked in the offensive department this season. Given his previous role as an assistant with a focus on the defence, it’s in the team’s best interest to bring in a more offensively-minded coach to pair with Foote’s style.
“We need an offensive guy and we need a defensive guy,” the new head coach stated simply. “I think I’d like to run the defence still, but I’m not sure that’s the way it goes now.”
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some of the Canucks’ assistant coach options.
In-House Hires
The Canucks had two assistant coaches last season, Foote and Yogi Švejkovský. Sergei Gonchar served as the team’s defensive development coach, while Marko Torenius was named the team’s goaltending coach after Ian Clark opted to take another role in scouting and development. Švejkovský is still listed as an assistant coach on the Canucks’ website, though the team has yet to publicly confirm whether he will continue in this role come 2025–26.
Promoting or retaining some of their old staff is definitely an option. Vancouver currently has four player development staff listed on their site. Perhaps you may have heard of them, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Mikael Samuelsson, and Mike Komisarek.
Many have floated the idea of the Sedin twins as Foote’s new assistant coaches. They would certainly help fill the offensive gap that the organization says they need to mend. However, a caveat here is that neither twin has behind-the-bench coaching experience. They have been with the organization in managerial roles since 2021. The Sedins served as special advisors, then prospect development specialists, and now player development and power play coaches. With this career trajectory in mind, their next step could be to step behind the bench.
Another option could be with the Abbotsford Canucks, who are currently 1–1 in their Division Final series of the 2025 AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs. Manny Malhotra, who was a favourite to be named the Canucks’ new head coach, ultimately didn’t get the role. He still has two more years on his contract as Abbotsford’s bench boss, with the last of these being an option season. Malhotra and Foote played together on the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2005 to 2007, so their previous history could factor into whatever decision the organization makes.
Coaches Outside of the Canucks
The Canucks have plenty of assistant coach options within the organization. However, there are plenty outside of it who they can also consider. For a familiar candidate, Vancouver could set their sights on bringing Alex Burrows in from the Montréal Canadiens. He is currently a player development consultant with the team and previously served as their assistant coach. Burrows was a Canuck from 2005 to 2017, meaning he was not around to play with any current Canucks. Familiarity is something both Foote and Canucks management emphasized in their media availability, so this may not be as likely.
Head coaches opting to take positions as assistant coaches aren’t unheard of. Claude Julien is currently an assistant coach for the St. Louis Blues’ despite having 20 years of experience as an NHL head coach. Vancouver could opt for a similar plan, bringing back a former head coach of their own to join Foote. Foote and management suggested that experience doesn’t matter in this role. However, the odds of them hiring a staff brand-new to NHL coaching is slim. John Tortorella could be an option for a team that’s looking for NHL coaching experience. This is also an unlikely option, but would be ironic given the fact that former Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet was recently named the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, the team Tortorella coached last season.
Offence will be a priority for the Canucks regarding who they bring in as assistant coaches. With skilled players like Quinn Hughes, Elias Pettersson, and the newly-signed Tom Willander, the Canucks will want to bring in a versatile assistant coach who can work on both sides of the ice.
Main Photo Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
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