The Vancouver Canucks entered the Olympic break with the NHL’s worst record this season but according to insider Darren Dreger, head coach Adam Foote’s job is safe, at least for now.
Speaking on the Skeres & Price podcast, Dreger poured cold water on mounting speculation about Foote’s future behind the bench.
“As far as management’s standpoint is right now, there’s no interest in removing Adam Foote as head coach,” Dreger said. “That’s media fodder.”
The dismissal of coaching change rumors comes as the Canucks sit dead last in the league standings with just 42 points so far. Their minus-60 goal differential is the worst in the league and they have already surrendered a league-high 205 goals against.
The team’s recent stretch has been particularly bad where they lost 16 of their last 18 games including an 11-game winless streak (0-9-2). The power play has also been anemic where they have managed just one goal in the last 10 games.
Canucks GM gave vote of confidence to Adam Foote
Earlier last month, general manager Patrik Allvin publicly backed head coach Adam Foote despite the Canucks’ freefall to the bottom of the NHL standings. He expressed confidence in his first-year coach and attributed the team’s struggles primarily to injuries.
Speaking to reporters on Jan. 20, Allvin made his position clear on Foote’s future with the organization.
“I do trust the coaching staff and Adam Foote,” Allvin said.
The GM pointed to specific stretches where the team showed competence, though he acknowledged those bright spots have been fleeting and dependent on roster health.
“There are pockets and stretches where we’re playing really well,” Allvin said. “There was a stretch of seven weeks in late November to early January when our penalty kill was really good, but that was based on you have your goalie and you’re fairly healthy.”
He also stressed that the organization recognizes the urgency of the situation and the coaching staff is actively working to turn things around.
“And I know the coaches are working on the solutions and working with the players to perform better, and we need to,” Allvin said.
Foote, promoted from assistant coach last May after Rick Tocchet departed for Philadelphia, inherited what appeared to be a competitive roster. Instead, his first season as an NHL head coach has become a nightmare scenario.
Injuries have plagued the lineup with key players including Marco Rossi, Brock Boeser, Filip Chytil, Nils Hoglander and Zeev Buium all missing significant time. The situation got worse when management traded captain Quinn Hughes to Minnesota and forward Kiefer Sherwood to San Jose.
Edited by Anjum Rajonno
