6 coaches Vancouver Canucks could hire if they fire Foote
Who will take the fall after the disastrous season the Vancouver Canucks have had in 2025-26?
There’s no shortage of options.
You can make a case for someone in management, like Jim Rutherford or Patrik Allvin, if not both.
You can make a case for the players, like Elias Pettersson.
And you can make a case for their head coach, Adam Foote.
The 54-year-old bench boss was dealt a crappy hand, but should still take some responsibility for overseeing arguably the worst season in franchise history.
Foote’s coaching resume is a short one. His one season with the Kelowna Rockets didn’t go well. Players spoke highly of Foote during his two and a half seasons as Rick Tocchet’s assistant coach.
Foote has faced criticism for the implementation of what has been an ineffective defensive system, and his communication through the media has left something to be desired.
So if the team goes in another direction next season, it wouldn’t be a big surprise.
Given the Canucks’ current place in the league, they likely won’t be the market for a high-priced coach that has his pick of teams. That probably rules out someone like Peter DeBoer.
They need a teacher, someone who can work positively with young players while the inevitable losses pile up.
Here’s a list of the six coaches that could fit the bill.
Manny Malhotra
Most recent job: Abbotsford head coach (AHL)
NHL head coaching record: N/A
Manny Malhotra was a candidate for this job before Foote was promoted. He’s just one year removed from leading the Abbotsford Canucks to a Calder Cup, and while the team will miss the playoffs this season, it’s understandable given the depleted roster he’s had to work with.
A clear communicator, the 45-year-old should have no trouble connecting with Vancouver’s young players.
While he doesn’t have NHL head coaching experience, Malhotra has been an assistant under Travis Green in Vancouver and Sheldon Keefe in Toronto.
Jay Woodcroft
Most recent job: Anaheim assistant coach (NHL)
NHL head coaching record: 79-41-13 (Edmonton)
Is it time for Jay Woodcroft to get another shot at running an NHL bench?
With Woodcroft as head coach, the Edmonton Oilers put together a 109-point season in 2022-23. That’s the highest point total the Oilers have had since Wayne Gretzky left town in 1988.
His points percentage (.724) was even better as a mid-season replacement in 2021-22. The Oilers also made it to the Western Conference Final that year.
This season, the 49-year-old is working as an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks, who are one of the surprise teams in the NHL.
Dave Hakstol
Most recent job: Colorado assistant coach (NHL)
NHL head coaching record: 241-213-69 (Philadelphia, Seattle)
Dave Hakstol has two NHL coaching jobs on his resume.
The 57-year-old Albertan led the Philadelphia Flyers to two playoff appearances before becoming the first head coach in Seattle Kraken history.
Seattle had a 100-point season in just their second year of existence and made it to the second round of the playoffs with Hakstol at the helm.
Pascal Vincent
Most recent job: Laval head coach (AHL)
NHL head coaching record: 27-43-12 (Columbus)
Pascal Vincent has just one year of NHL head coaching experience. He also worked as an assistant coach under Paul Maurice in Winnipeg and Brad Larsen in Columbus, before taking an AHL head coaching gig in Laval in 2024.
Vincent has been one of the most successful coaches in the AHL the past two seasons in Laval, the minor league affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, posting a record of 87-38-10.
Todd Nelson
Most recent job: Pittsburgh assistant coach (NHL)
NHL head coaching record: 17-22-7 (Edmonton)
Todd Nelson seems deserving of another shot to run an NHL bench, after taking over as interim Oilers head coach for 46 games in 2014-15.
Nelson won an AHL championship in three seasons with Grand Rapids and another two titles in three seasons with Hershey. He was also an assistant coach with Dallas when they went to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020, and is part of a surprisingly good Pittsburgh Penguins team this season, as an assistant coach.
Dean Evason
Most recent job: Columbus head coach (NHL)
NHL head coaching record: 179-106-36
The Columbus Blue Jackets were one win shy of qualifying for the playoffs last year under Dean Evason. He was fired midway through this season.
In parts of five seasons with the Minnesota Wild, Evason compiled an impressive 147-77-27 record. Minnesota wasn’t able to win a playoff series with Evason at the helm, however.
A former head coach of the Vancouver Giants, Evason’s stock is down, but he has experience coaching young players. Kirill Kaprizov became a star under his watch, as did Matt Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek. Adam Fantilli and Kent Johnson also had productive seasons under Evason in Columbus last season.