In a new interview, Vancouver Canucks forward Conor Garland revealed that new head coach Adam Foote was a major catalyst in him returning to the Canucks. This offseason has been full of change for the Vancouver Canucks heading into 2025-26. First, head coach Rick Tocchet chose to leave the Vancouver Canucks and was <a href='https://www.nhl.com/news/rick-tocchet-hired-as-philadelphia-flyers-coach' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>hired as the head coach of the Philadelphia Flyers.</a> Tocchet was then replaced by former NHL defenseman and Canucks assistant Adam Foote as the Vancouver head coach. Foote has come into the job relatively inexperienced as a head coach but so far several players seem to have full belief in him including Conor Garland. <h3>Conor Garland Gives Major Praise To New Head Coach Adam Foote</h3> Conor Garland went into this offseason set to become a free agent who many expected to sign with a new team this summer. Instead, Garland returned to the Canucks on a long-term deal just after free agency opened. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/jfreshhockey/status/1940049513764593828'><div style='border:1px solid #CCCCCC;border-radius:10px;padding:20px;width:300px;'>Loading from Twitter ...</div></a></blockquote></div> With Garland's future now cemented in Vancouver he was asked why he decided to return and the veteran forward cited Adam Foote as a major factor. He sees the game from a defensive standpoint, but we've talked offence and our rush game and things we'll look at in the offensive zone. He's one of the smartest minds on defence and the penalty kill. After praising Foote, Garland also admits the team is still unsure how things will go with Foote as the head coach but that the team loved him in the past. As a head coach, I don't know how he's going to be. He was awesome as an assistant and very demanding. But whenever you had something going on, he was a guy you could talk to. He's very personable. I'm excited. With a new regime in charge, Garland is hoping to take a step forward himself particularly as a leader in the locker room after taking on a leadership role with Team Canada at the World Championships. This year in Vancouver, I was in a leadership role from Day 1, and at worlds I wore a (alternate captain) letter and was part of that leadership group,» said Garland. «I enjoyed being the guy who got the puck and retrieved it for them and let their hind-end talent take over. I learned what it takes to win in a tough tournament like that where a lot has to go right. As the season gets underway, it will be interesting to see if Garland and Foote can get things going in the right direction to get the Vancouver Canucks back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.