Cal Foote is Adam Foote’s son. But there’s a lot more to their story than a simple family tree
Adam set the standard as a hard-nosed, stay-at-home defenseman who helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001.
Cal followed as a right-shot defender drafted 14th overall in 2017. He has played in the NHL for the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators and later spent time in the New Jersey Devils organization before moving to Europe for 2024–25.
This article explains their relationship, how Adam’s career shaped Cal’s path, where each of them has played, and what makes their bond unique in the hockey world.
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Table of Contents
Who is Adam Foote?
Adam Foote is a Canadian former NHL defenseman and current coach. Born July 10, 1971, in Toronto, he was drafted 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989 and debuted in the NHL in 1991–92.
When the franchise moved to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995, Foote became a core piece of those powerhouse teams, winning the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001.
He later signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2005, served as their captain, and returned to Colorado in 2008, finishing his playing career in 2011.
As a player, he was known for physical play, leadership, and reliability in tough defensive matchups.
Internationally, he won Olympic gold with Team Canada in 2002 and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.1
Foote’s NHL stat line underscores that role. He played 1,154 regular-season games with 308 points (66 goals, 242 assists), plus 170 playoff games with 42 points.
Those numbers don’t scream offensive star, but they perfectly fit the profile of a stay-at-home defender who did the heavy lifting in his own zone and in front of the net.
After retirement, Adam moved into coaching and player development, including a stint as head coach of the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets. He has also worked on NHL benches in coaching roles.
The specifics of coaching titles can change season to season, but his post-playing life has remained tied to developing defensemen and team structure.2
Who is Cal Foote?
Cal Foote was born December 13, 1998, in Colorado during the years his father played for the Avalanche. He grew up around NHL rinks, soaked up the game, and eventually chose defense just like his dad.
Cal played junior hockey for the Kelowna Rockets (WHL), where he served as captain, and the Tampa Bay Lightning drafted him 14th overall in 2017. Tampa signed him to his entry-level deal in 2018.
Cal made his NHL debut with the Lightning in January 2021 and was part of the organization when Tampa Bay won the Stanley Cup that season, appearing in 13 playoff games during the run.
In February 2023, he was traded to the Nashville Predators as part of the package Tampa sent for Tanner Jeannot. Ahead of 2023–24, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils and spent time in their system.
For the 2024–25 season, he moved to Europe, joining HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš in Slovakia.3
Internationally, although he was born and raised in the U.S., Cal chose to represent Canada his father’s national team and won gold at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.
The Foote Family Connection
Their relationship is both simple and rich: Cal is Adam’s son, and hockey has always been a shared language in the Foote household. Adam’s career gave Cal a front-row seat to elite preparation, pro habits, and what it takes to survive in the NHL.
When you grow up seeing a parent block shots, battle top lines, and hold a championship parade, it leaves an imprint.
Similarities in style. Both are right-shot defensemen with NHL frames and a defense-first mindset. Adam made a career out of physical play, crease protection, and shutting down opponents’ stars.
Cal’s scouting reports and usage have often placed him in a defense-first bucket trusted on the penalty kill, valued for reach and positioning, and more focused on denying chances than producing points.4
To everyone.
Much love 💛 pic.twitter.com/JzSMLoeoeG
— Cal Foote Photo of the Day (@FooteOTD) July 18, 2023
Not identical players. Cal emerged in a faster, puck-moving era where defenders are expected to retrieve quickly, exit with control, and activate in the rush when lanes open.
While Cal’s calling card is still defense, he has shown flashes of puck movement and a heavy point shot honed in junior, where he produced strong numbers for Kelowna.
Shared milestones. Both were high draft picks relative to their classes: Adam 22nd overall in 1989; Cal 14th overall in 2017. Both wore leadership letters in junior or pro. And both have lifted major trophies, Adam two Stanley Cups and Olympic gold; Cal a World Junior gold and a ring from Tampa’s 2021 championship run.
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How Adam’s Career Shaped Cal’s Journey
Growing up with an NHL defenseman as a father gives you daily exposure to the game’s demands. Adam’s strengths toughness, positioning, and leadership show up in Cal’s approach.
The difference is the era. The modern game prizes footspeed, transition play, and breakouts under pressure. Cal trained into that identity, but the “Foote DNA” of defending the house remains.
One direct influence came in junior. Cal played for the Kelowna Rockets, one of the WHL’s premier development pipelines for defensemen. Adam later served as head coach for the Rockets, reinforcing pro standards within the same environment.
While Adam wasn’t Cal’s WHL head coach during Cal’s Rockets years, the shared Kelowna connection underscores how the family kept defense-first habits close.
Playing Style
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Handedness: Both shoot right.5
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Size: Adam (6’2″, ~220–226 lbs); Cal (about 6’4″–6’5″, ~224–225 lbs).
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Calling Card: Adam defensive stopper, physical, leader; Cal defensive-leaning modern D with reach and a heavy shot from the point.
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Accolades: Adam 2x Stanley Cup, Olympic gold, World Cup gold; Cal World Junior gold, part of Tampa’s 2021 Cup season.6
Cal Foote’s Career Stops (Short Guide)
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Kelowna Rockets (WHL): Where Cal first wore the “C,” refined his shot, and logged heavy minutes.7
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Tampa Bay Lightning / Syracuse Crunch (AHL): Entry-level years, NHL debut in 2021, learned inside a Cup-caliber system.
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Nashville Predators: Acquired in the 2023 Tanner Jeannot trade; gained reps in a new defensive scheme.
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New Jersey Devils (contract in 2023–24): One-year, two-way deal for depth and development within a fast, transition-driven organization.
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HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš (Slovakia) in 2024–25: A European chapter to log big minutes and reset value.
The Broader Hockey Family
Cal isn’t Adam’s only hockey-playing child. His younger brother, Nolan Foote, is a forward (not a defenseman) and has been a New Jersey Devils prospect, which makes the family’s NHL footprint even wider.
Nolan’s path shows that even in a defense-first household, there’s room for a goal-scorer.8
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) What is the relationship between Cal Foote and Adam Foote?
Cal Foote is the son of Adam Foote. Adam is a retired NHL defenseman and two-time Stanley Cup champion. Cal followed his father into the same position as a right-shot defenseman.
Q2) Did they ever play on the same team?
Not at the NHL level. Adam retired in 2011. Cal reached the NHL a decade later, debuting with Tampa Bay in 2021.
Q3) Are their playing styles the same?
They’re similar in that both are defense-first, right-shot blue-liners with size. Adam was a classic shutdown defender in a heavier, more physical 1990s/2000s NHL. Cal grew up in a faster era that prioritizes transition, but he still leans defense-first.
Q4) Which trophies has each one won?
Adam won two Stanley Cups with Colorado (1996, 2001), an Olympic gold medal (2002), and the World Cup of Hockey (2004). Cal won gold at the 2018 World Juniors and was part of Tampa Bay’s 2021 championship season, appearing in 13 playoff games.
Q5) Was Cal a high draft pick like his father?
Yes. Cal was selected 14th overall in 2017 by the Lightning; Adam was 22nd overall in 1989 by the Nordiques. Both were first two rounds in their respective drafts.
Final Word
The Foote name bridges two NHL generations. Adam, the proud, punishing defender defined by leadership and rings; Cal, the modern defensive blue-liner growing his game in a faster era.
The son–father link is unmistakable, but each has his own lane. Adam set the standard for what a shutdown defenseman can be at the game’s highest level.
Cal took those lessons and is scripting his own story first in the NHL and now in Europe while keeping the Foote tradition strong on the back end.
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