So Long Footer - Again

I thought he might have long career as Avs TV guy, but the Canucks had other ideas

The news became official not long ago: Adam Foote, iconic Avalanche defenseman whose No. 52 forever hangs atop Ball Arena, took a job with the Vancouver Canucks as an assistant coach to new Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet.

We had all been seeing a lot of Footer again recently (well, at least those of us who could watch Altitude again) as an in-studio analyst for Avs games. And, he was very good at it. I thought he seemed like a natural.

But I know he longed for getting back in the game in a more direct way. I spent some time with him in Kelowna, B.C., a few years ago when he was head coach of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.

He loved being back on the ice, teaching and leading young men. He spent most of his post-retirement years from the Avs teaching and leading his two sons, Cal and Nolan, and they both went on to NHL careers.

Things didn’t work out in the long term for Foote in Kelowna, but once you get bit by the coaching bug, it never goes away. I’ve had countless actual coaches tell me that.

So, now he’ll be back behind a bench, albeit for the (booo) Canucks. But he’s hardly the only ex-Av to be out there coaching for the enemy now. You’ve got Alex Tanguay as an assistant in Detroit (booo). Andrew Brunette is an associate coach with the Devils. D.J. Smith is head coach in Ottawa. Rob Blake is GM in L.A. and Chris Drury is GM with the Rangers.

It’s not a bad thing. It’s a testament to what a great organization the Avalanche have been. So many people have “graduated” to other things.

So, let’s send Footer off with a hearty “Good luck in Vancouver, Footer” proclamation.

(But not too much good luck).