Adam Foote

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

A product of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Foote was drafted 22nd overall in the 1989 NHL entry draft by the Quebec Nordiques. He began his NHL career with the Nordiques in 1991–92 before the franchise relocated to Colorado, where they played as the Avalanche; he won two Stanley Cups with the team in 1996 and 2001. In 2005, Foote signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he served as team captain for three seasons. He was traded back to the Avalanche in 2008, where he would eventually complete his playing career. At the end of his playing career in 2011, Foote was the last active NHL player to have played for the Nordiques. Internationally, Foote won a gold medal in 2002 Winter Olympics and a World Cup championship in 2004 with Canada. Foote is the father of NHL player Nolan Foote and former NHL player Cal Foote.

In Their Own Story

On April 10, 2011, the arena witnessed a poignant farewell as Adam Foote played his final NHL game for the Avalanche. In a season finale against the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado secured a 4–3 overtime victory, earning Foote the first star of the game. This moment capped a career that saw him transition from a junior standout in Sault Ste. Marie to a two-time Stanley Cup champion and franchise captain. Following his retirement, Foote entered coaching with the Avalanche (2011–2017) before leading the Kelowna Rockets as head coach from October 23, 2018, until February 2020. His NHL coaching resume expanded to include an assistant role with the Vancouver Canucks starting in January 2023. After Rick Tocchet's departure following the 2024–25 season, Foote was promoted to head coach on May 14, 2025. However, after a difficult regular season record of 25–49–8, he was relieved of his duties on May 19, 2026.

Reader's Guide

Foote grew up playing hockey for the Brooklin-Whitby Minor Hockey Association (OMHA). He was a teammate of future NHLer Keith Primeau for several years. After a successful midget season with Brooklin-Whitby's AA team, Foote was a second-round underage choice, 21st overall, of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 1988 OHL Priority Selection. He played three OHL seasons with the Greyhounds, winning a J. Ross Robertson Cup and appearing in the Memorial Cup in his final season under future NHL head coach Ted Nolan. Foote was selected 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989 NHL entry draft. He played for Quebec for four seasons until the franchise moved to Colorado to become the Avalanche in 1995–96. Foote won his first of two Stanley Cups with the Avalanche that year, sweeping the Florida Panthers in the Final. Five years later, Foote helped the Avalanche to a second Stanley Cup championship in 2001, defeating the New Jersey Devils in seven games. The following season, in 2001–02, Foote recorded a career-high 22 assists in the regular season before missing out on his second straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance with the Avalanche, losing in seven games to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals. In 2002–03, Foote had another career-year offensively, scoring personal bests of 11 goals and 31 points. After a 30-point campaign in 2003–04, he remained inactive in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout. When NHL play was set to resume in 2005–06, Foote parted ways with the Avalanche franchise after 13 seasons, signing a three-year contract worth $13.5 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets on August 1, 2005. He was immediately named an alternate captain for the upcoming season, but was assigned the Blue Jackets' captaincy in December 2005 when defenceman Luke Richardson stepped down from the position. He became the fourth captain in franchise history. Three seasons later, with his contract set to expire, Foote was traded from the Blue Jackets back to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for two conditional draft picks on February 26, 2008. The trade occurred amid speculation that the Blue Jackets were trying to re-sign Foote to keep him in Columbus, but could not meet Foote's asking price. Later that night, he arrived in Calgary during the first period to play against the Flames. Foote managed one goal and 15 assists for a total of 16 points in 75 ga

Did You Know?

• Foote was the last active NHL player to have played for the Quebec Nordiques.
• He served as captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets from December 2005 until his trade in February 2008.
• Foote's number 52 jersey was retired by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013.
• He coached his son Nolan, who was team captain of the Kelowna Rockets at the time of Adam's departure in February 2020.