The Vancouver Canucks are looking to put the drama behind them and turn the page ahead of a pivotal 2025-26 NHL season, which will mark Adam Foote’s head coaching debut at Rogers Arena. Determined to show a much better face than last season, forward Conor Garland delivered a strong message to Elias Pettersson and the rest of his teammates.
The Canucks are stepping onto a new era under the guidance of Adam Foote, who has been named the 22nd head coach in franchise history after Rick Tocchet moved on from Vancouver to sign with the Philadelphia Flyers.
Though a new age of Canucks’ hockey, Foote has already been working alongside Pettersson, Garland, and company as an assistant coach for the past three NHL seasons, which means the team might already know what they will be walking into come training camp.
The Canucks have been through the wringer lately, and right now, all they can ask for are signs of stability and beacons of hope moving forward. While last season fell well short of expectations, Vancouver still boasts a competitive roster—one capable of giving any team in the NHL a run for its money.
Elias Pettersson #40 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck during NHL hockey action against the Winnipeg Jets at Rogers Arena on February 19, 2021 in Vancouver, Canada.
“I haven’t seen what our system is going to look like, but I know from talking with guys at the Worlds that we are one of the hardest teams to play against and teams don’t enjoy playing against us,” Garland admitted during an interview with radio show Sportsnet 650 Vancouver.
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“We’ve got a big defensemen core, two really good goalies, forwards that play on your face, obviously we got to produce a lot more offense up front, and I’m one of those guys that has to do that. But if we can stick to our staples, in how hard we defend and how hard we can protect our house, I think we can be a really good hockey team.”
Life under Foote
In addition, Garland shared a strong statement about the Canucks’ locker room reaction to Foote’s hiring following Tocchet’s departure. According to the forward, Foote strikes the perfect balance—a fresh face behind the bench without making a complete 180-degree shift after a challenging year.
“[Foote] understands what it takes [to win],” Garland said ondialogue with Sportsnet 650. “Very defensive-minded, I really enjoyed listening to him as an assistant, so very exciting to have him as a head coach. I know our group, core pieces, and leadership is very excited about it.“
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The Canucks are stepping in a new direction—one they hope will finally lead to success after years of frustration for their devoted fanbase. In Vancouver, the hunger for a first-ever Stanley Cup grows stronger with each passing season.
