Farewell Footer

People believed that this was likely Adam Foote's last year, and when it was reported that he was rumored to be signed up to be an assistant coach for his sons' youth hockey team next year speculation grew.  Then today it was announced that he and the Avalanche would be holding a press conference tomorrow it all but confirmed it.  It won't be official until then but it doesn't change anything; this will be Foote's last season of hockey.

Adam Foote was a heart and soul warrior for his 20 seasons in the NHL and was one mean SOB to play against, but he was also a great human being and a great teammate.  When Sakic retired there was no question that it would be Foote's team until he retired.  He has spent 17 of his 20 seasons with the club, only stopping over in Columbus for just under three years before being traded back to the team he belonged on.

It can be debated if he is Hall of Fame caliber but it can't be debated that he was a great hockey player.  He gave his all and put his heart fully into his team.  He defended his teammates and punished any opposing players that came close to the Avalanche goal.  He didn't produce much offensively but he was rock solid defensively, perhaps one of the best shutdown guys in his time.  He has won cups, has won gold medals, but was never named to the All-Star game but that was because players in his role never get that recognition.  He was also a leader on the ice and in the locker room and was passionate and it showed.  His teammates all loved him just as Avalanche fans did.  Many opposing fans will tell you that they absolutely hated playing against him, and for a tough, hard-nosed, defensive defenseman that's about the best complement other fans could pay him.

He may or may not be Hall bound, but one thing is for sure.  When tickets go on sale for next season I'll be getting mine for the home opener.  I had already planned to do so for the Peter Forsberg jersey retirement that is sure to happen, but now to have two of the franchise's greatest players to go in the same year there should be two jerseys going to the rafters that night and that is something that I can't miss out on.

A short little tribute to Foote follows this blog post that came about when he returned to the Avalanche, but here are just a few of my favorite Adam Foote moments...

• Game 6 of the 2001 series against NJ : In a game that the Avalanche had to win to continue their series they were being outplayed through much of the first period.  Then as the period wound down foot skated in and just across the blue line let go of a shot that beat Brodeur and gave the Avs the lead.  They would go on to win 4-0 and then win the next game to win the Stanley Cup.
• Every game : Ok, that's pretty general but what I meant by it was that each and every game it was fun watching Foote take on the other team's best.  He would get out there with all his intensity and just go at it with guys.  His battles in front of the net with guys like Keith Tkachuk and Brendan Shannahan were absolute wars down in the trenches.  His fire and intensity and the punishment he dished out were fun to watch.
• Foote returns : After playing a few seasons for Columbus he was traded back to the team he should have always been on, the Avs.  He jumped on a plane and showed up mid game.  Watching him come down the ramp while the game was in progress and join them on the bench during play, and watching Liles turn his way, recognize who it was after a short moment and get a huge grin on his face ... that was an emotional event that brought great pride and happiness to myself and other Avs fans.

Some others are in this video, though certainly not all of them.  We'll miss you Footer!
Foote Tribute Video