Adam Foote closed out a spectacular career with a win that capped a disappointing season for the Avalanche
Image by JessicaAvsFan via Flickr
The Colorado Avalanche said goodbye to their last remaining veteran from two Stanley Cup teams on Sunday in Denver. With a 4-3 Overtime victory versus the Edmonton Oilers, the Avs bid adieu to veteran defenseman Adam Foote. The come-from-behind win was the closing note in a disappointing 30-44-8 season.
‘Footer’ will go out on top (franchise leader in assists from a defenseman) despite the Avalanche struggling to the second-worst record in the NHL. Adam announced his pending retirement last week. He has an outside chance at landing in Toronto at the Hockey Hall of Fame. Foote played 17 of his 19 NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche.
“It was great to get the win for Foote. What a great career,†said sophomore winger Matt Duchene after the game. Duchene has been living with Foote since coming to Colorado last season, and credits Adam with his immediate success at the NHL level.
Duchene assisted on both Milan Hejduk’s game-tying goal early in the 3rd Period and David Jones’ game-winning goal 3:57 into OT. The Avs came from behind to tie it twice after falling behind 1-0 just 1:26 into the 1st Period and then handing Edmonton a 3-2 lead in the 2nd.
Milan Hejduk’s goal moved him ahead of Peter Forseberg on the Colorado/Quebec all-time scoring list with 756 points. Hejduk is now the only remaining player from the 2001 Stanley Cup Champion Avalanche still playing in Colorado.
Foote won Stanley Cups with the Avalanche in both 1996 (when Hejduk was still playing in the Czech Extraliga) and in 2001. Said Foote to the Avalanche faithful and his teammates after his final game at Pepsi Center, “Thank you for your support, and I love you all.â€
Following Joe Sakic’s retirement before last season, Adam Foote was named Captain of the Colorado Avalanche. Many expect Hejduk to be offered the C if he is retained through a new contract for next year.
