Tampa Bay Lightning land a big Foote on the first day of the NHL draft

By Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
June 22, 2017

Chicago – The Lightning headed in to Friday’s first round of the NHL Entry Draft looking to make an impression.

Tampa Bay instead left with a big Foote.

Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman kept hold of the first round pick and selected defenseman Callan Foote, the son of former NHL defenseman Adam Foote, who was a stalwart on the Colorado Avalanche during the team’s run of success.

The younger Foote – who wears a size 16 skate – may not have the same nastiness in his game that his father played with, but Cal Foote brings a competitive fire to his game to go with a strong hockey IQ, according to scouting reports. And he’s right-handed, something the organization continues to covet.

But Foote doesn’t carry the same type of game as his father, and his dad said that’s just fine.

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“He’s his own guy, right from his own personality,” Adam Foote said. “We are different, we are completely different. I didn’t have the confidence that he has as far as the offensive abilities. I had to muck it up and win the battles along the boards just to stay in the league, but I know he’s got that in him. But the league has changed as well, it’s definitely changed and he’s his own guy. I’m just proud of him.”

Foote, for obvious reasons, grew up around the game and he “lived at the rink”, according to his father, who won two Stanley Cups with Colorado and would bring his kids to the rink, so it’s no wonder Cal, along with younger brother Nolan – the two are teammates with Kelowna in the Western Hockey League – chose to pursue hockey, following in his foot(e)steps.

“Once my boys decided to do something, I just wanted to do everything I could to give them their opportunity,” Adam Foote said. “And he had to want to do it, we didn’t force him to do anything and he wanted to play. And you know what, he lived in the locker room, I took him to the rink and all the guys that I’ve seen here this weekend that I haven’t seen in a long time, he met them as well. And it’s all they know, they get dragged to the locker room and their are guys in their face who throw them in the garbage can. It’s just the hockey world that they know.”

When it came time for Tampa Bay to make its selection, Yzerman and his staff knew that Foote was the right fit when it came time for the scouting staff to step to the podium to announce the choice.

“We got the chance to get a big, right-shot defenseman that can really pass the puck and has good hockey sense,” Yzerman said. “Not only does that make him a really good prospect, it addresses a need that we have with another right-shot, puck-moving defenseman.”

And though the bloodlines are there, Yzerman acknowledged just how different father and son are on the ice.

“He’s a big strong guy, but Adam Foote was mean, he was a good skater and a good player, but he was mean. I don’t think in watching Cal, he’s got a little bit more offense to his game, he’s big and strong. And the game has changed a lot, you can’t play the way (Adam) did in the 90’s. So Cal is big and smart, he leans on people, so a little different player than his dad but you similarities in his skating stride and his posture.”

At 6-foot-4, 212-pounds, Foote brings NHL size to the table – including a size 16 shoe size – to go with a solid, steady game that draws comparisons to St. Louis Blues’ defenseman Colton Parayko. TSN draft analyst said of Foote: “Smart, good with the puck and competitive. Just scratching the surface of his potential.’’

In 142 games the past two seasons with Kelowna, Foote has evolved in to a strong two-way defenseman who plays in all situations and special teams. He has 14 goals and 93 points while seeing his offensive output increase by 21 points this season. It’s that all-around game and his high hockey IQ that has the Lightning excited.

“He’s a very smart player, he sees the ice and when he gets the puck he moves it,” Yzerman said. “When he’s eventually ready to play on our team, our forwards are going to really enjoy it, he gets the puck and he moves it to the forwards.”

Cal Foote said his dad has been the greatest influence on his path in hockey.

“He’s pretty much taught me almost everything I know about the game,” Cal Foote said. “Just being around him, he’s helped me a ton and I’m very fortunate to have him around.”

Being able to have his father in the stands, along with his mother and brother, when he heard his name called was a moment he’ll never forget.

”You get chills, you don’t believe it at first,’’ Foote said of hearing his name. “It’s very special to be able to give my parents a hug. It’s an unbelievable feeling, you just don’t know how to describe it.’’

Noteable: Here is the report on Foote from NHL Central Scouting: “Very smart two-way defenseman – excellent passer with good vision – very good positional defender who uses his size and reach to advantage; hard to beat him one on one – plays against the opposition’s top lines as well as on the power play and penalty kill – good puck skills at offensive blue line.” … Yzerman said there were a few scenarios in which he had the chance to possibly move up in the first round had things unfolded differently while some other teams had called to inquire about possibly moving up and swapping picks with Tampa Bay. But none of that materialized and the Lightning were happy to be able to keep the pick and select Foote. … Tampa Bay will enter the second day of the draft with five picks, starting with 48th overall (second round) followed by 76th (third), 169th (sixth), 180th (sixth) and 200th (seventh). Yzerman said there was no specific expectations on what the team is looking for or if there are any potential trades to be made.

Cal Foote interview from the draft

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