The Vancouver Canucks will enter the 2025-26 season with a rookie head coach. After Rick Tocchet departed the organization this off-season, the Canucks promoted Adam Foote, making him the 22nd head coach in franchise history. Foote has been a head coach before, but that was several years ago when he was the bench boss for the Kelowna Rockets of the WHL.
Over Vancouver's 50+ year history, the Canucks have hired six rookie head coaches. While some found success behind the bench, others struggled and only lasted a few seasons. With Foote joining the list this year, here is a look at how each of the previous six rookie head coaches has performed during their first season behind the bench.
Phil Maloney
The first rookie head coach ever hired by Vancouver was Phil Maloney. The long-time Western Hockey League Canucks forward took over as head coach during the 1973-1974 season, replacing Bill McCreary. In the end, Maloney coached 37 games during his rookie campaign, with Vancouver posting a record of 15-18-4.
Maloney had a significantly better record during his first full season as a head coach. In 1974-75, the Canucks went 38-32-10 and won their division. Maloney would coach one and a half more seasons before vacating the head coaching position midway through the 1976-1977 season.
Orland Kurtenbach
After Maloney's tenure was complete, Vancouver hired Orland Kurtenbach as their fifth coach in franchise history. The former captain was coaching the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League before getting the call by the Canucks. During Kurtenbach's rookie season, he coached 45 games, posting a record of 16-19-10.
Kurtenbach didn't spend long as Vancouver's head coach, as he was replaced after the 1977-78 season. During his first full season, he coached 80 games, posting a record of 20-43-17. Decades later, Kurtenbach was honoured by the organization, becoming the first person to be inducted into the Ring of Honour.
Bill LaForge
In 1985, the Canucks hired their third rookie head coach in Bill LaForge. At 32-years-old, he took over Vancouver's bench after a successful run in the WHL. Unfortunately for the Canucks, this proved to be a disaster as LaForge didn't even coach 25 games.
After starting the 1985-86 season 4-14-2, Vancouver fired LaForge. He was replaced by Harry Neale, who was the Canucks GM at the time. According to NHL Records, Laforge ranks 370th all-time in games coached and tied for 370th in wins.
Tom Renney
Vancouver waited over a decade before hiring their next rookie head coach, but eventually decided on Tom Renney for the 1996-97 season. He joined the Canucks after a successful stint as Team Canada's head coach for international tournaments. During his first season, Renney coached 82 games, posting a record of 35-40-7.
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Like most on this list, Renney's time with the organization was short. After posting a 4-13-2 record, he was fired 19 games into the 1997-98 season when Mike Keenan replaced him. Renney would go on to coach the New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers before spending time as an executive with Hockey Canada.
Willie Desjardins
Up next is Willie Desjardins, who joined the organization ahead of the 2014-15 season. Prior to accepting the Canucks head coaching job, Desjardins had led the Texas Stars to a Calder Cup championship in 2014. During his first season with Vancouver, Desjardins posted a record of 48-29-5, helping the Canucks secure a second-place finish in the Pacific Division.
In the end, Desjardins would spend three seasons behind the bench for Vancouver. He was fired following the 2016-17 season, where the Canucks posted a record of 30-43-9. Currently, Desjardins can be found in the WHL, where he led the Medicine Hat Tigers to the Memorial Cup Final last season.
Travis Green
As for the most recent rookie head coach, that would be Travis Green. He was hired by Vancouver in 2017 after spending four seasons in the AHL with the Utica Comets. During Green's first season, the Canucks posted a record of 31-40-11, finishing seventh in the division.
Green spent four and a half years with Vancouver before being fired during the 2021-22 season. He led the Canucks to the post-season in 2020, where the team made it to Game 7 of the second round. Currently, Green is the head coach of the Ottawa Senators, who qualified for the playoffs last year.
Regular Season Coaching Records With The Organization Of Vancouver Canucks Rookie Head Coaches
- Phil Maloney: 232 G, 95 W, 105 L, 32 T
- Orland Kurtenbach: 125 G, 36 W, 62 L, 27 T
- Bill LaForge: 20 G, 4 W, 14 L, 2 T
- Tom Renney: 101 G, 39 W, 53 L, 9 T
- Willie Desjardins: 246 G, 109 W, 110 L, 27 OTL
- Travis Green: 314 G, 133 W, 147 L, 34 OTL
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