Will there be management and/or coaching changes in Vancouver this offseason?
Elliotte Friedman offered his perspective when questioned about the potential departures of Jim Rutherford and Adam Foote from the Vancouver Canucks this summer.
Rick Dhaliwal noted the prevalent social media chatter demanding the firing of the Canucks’ president, coach, and general manager, though he believes “you can’t fire everybody.”
Commenting on the rumors surrounding Jim Rutherford, Friedman stated he sees no indications of his departure. Having known Rutherford for over 25 years, Friedman finds him consistent in his usual “defiant” demeanor. He reminded listeners that Rutherford, a former NHL goaltender and a manager with decades of experience and three Stanley Cups, possesses the resilience to handle criticism during challenging periods. Based on their recent conversations, Friedman did not get the impression that Rutherford, despite being in his 70s, intends to step away.
Regarding Adam Foote, Friedman suggested that some of the team’s issues this year extended far beyond Foote’s responsibility, citing Quinn Hughes’s reported unhappiness as an example. He proposed judging Foote based on the development of young players. If a coach is changed after only a year, Friedman views it as an organizational failure. The primary metric for evaluating Foote, in Friedman’s opinion, should be whether young talents like Zeev Buium, Liam Ogren, Marco Rossi, or Tom Willander are showing improvement. Friedman also pondered whether Foote could effectively mentor a potential rookie, such as McKenna, in the nuances of NHL play.
