The Utah Mammoth are gaining momentum in their pursuit of former Canucks head coach Adam Foote, with multiple reports suggesting both sides are actively working toward a potential deal.
The Utah Mammoth are quietly circling a familiar name on the coaching market — and if momentum keeps building, a reunion north of the border could be next.
According to Vancouver-based reporter Rick Dhaliwal of Donnie & Dhali — The Team, there is “interest” between Adam Foote and the Mammoth, with multiple indications the two sides are actively working toward a deal. The idea isn’t just exploratory anymore — it’s trending toward something more concrete.
“There’s interest in Foote from the Mammoth, and I do believe they are trying to get a deal done,” Dhaliwal noted.
One of the more natural bridges in this potential hiring stems from Mammoth head coach André Tourigny and Foote’s long-standing professional connection.
Tourigny previously served as an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche from 2013 to 2015, overlapping indirectly with Foote’s time in the organization as a defence development consultant. The relationship between the two has continued to resonate since then, with Foote previously crediting Tourigny for helping shape his understanding of defensive structure and pro-level teaching detail.
That familiarity could matter. In today’s NHL, coaching hires are rarely just about résumé — they’re about trust, systems alignment, and shared language behind the bench.
Foote’s availability comes after a turbulent stretch with the Vancouver Canucks.
He initially joined the organization midway through the 2022-23 season as part of Rick Tocchet’s staff, taking charge of the blue line and penalty kill. At the time, his impact was widely viewed as positive — Vancouver’s defensive structure tightened, and the penalty kill showed real signs of life.
That momentum carried into the following season, when the Canucks shocked the league by winning the Pacific Division and pushing within a win of the Western Conference Final.
But things unraveled quickly after that.
Off-ice turbulence, including the midseason trade of J.T. Miller following a reported rift with Elias Pettersson, coincided with a sharp dip in performance during the 2024-25 campaign. The offseason brought more upheaval, as Tocchet departed despite a significant contract offer, setting the stage for Foote’s promotion to head coach.
What followed was a disastrous 2025-26 season.
Vancouver struggled in all three zones, with defensive breakdowns becoming a nightly issue. Systems that once looked structured as an assistant coach appeared misaligned with the roster as a whole in the lead role. The season spiraled, highlighted by the trade of Quinn Hughes before Christmas and ultimately ended with the Canucks finishing at the bottom of the NHL standings.
Foote was relieved of his duties shortly after the season concluded, with Manny Malhotra taking over behind the bench.
Despite the difficult head coaching stint, Foote’s reputation hasn’t been erased — not by a long shot.
Around the league, his work with defensemen as an assistant coach still carries weight. During his time in Vancouver, blue-liners consistently credited him with improving their details, positioning, and decision-making under pressure. Those results were visible when he was working within a narrower role.
That contrast — strong assistant, struggling head coach — is exactly why Utah’s interest makes sense. Teams often look at coaches like Foote as specialists rather than system architects, and in a structured environment under a stable bench leadership group, he could be positioned to thrive again.
There’s also a financial layer to this potential hire that works in everyone’s favor.
If Foote joins the Mammoth at a lower salary than his current Canucks deal, Vancouver would only be responsible for the difference between contracts for the remaining two seasons. If Utah matches or exceeds his current salary, Vancouver would be fully off the hook.
It’s a structure that effectively turns a coaching change into a partial financial reset — something Canucks management would welcome as they continue reshaping their hockey operations footprint.
For now, nothing is finalized. But the direction is clear: Utah is engaged, Foote is available, and there’s enough history between key figures to make this more than speculation.
And in a coaching market that tends to move quickly once momentum starts building, this is one storyline that may not stay quiet for long.