Cal Foote

Cal Foote
Foote with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022
Born (1998-12-13) December 13, 1998 (age 27)
Englewood, Colorado, U.S.
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight 212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
team
Former teams		 Free agent
Tampa Bay Lightning
Nashville Predators
New Jersey Devils
MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš
NHL draft 14th overall, 2017
Tampa Bay Lightning
Playing career 2018–present

Callan Hayden Foote (born December 13, 1998) is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a defenceman and an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL). Foote was selected 14th overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. Foote won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2021.

In 2025, Foote was legally acquitted after being charged in the 2018 Hockey Canada controversy and sexual assault.

Playing career

Junior

Foote was drafted in the second-round by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2013 WHL bantam draft. After being drafted by Kelowna, Foote played two seasons with the Colorado Thunderbirds under-16 team in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League before making his WHL debut in the 2015–16 season. In his draft year, Foote posted 57 points in 71 games for the Kelowna Rockets. On June 23, 2017, the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Foote in the first round of the 2017 NHL entry draft with the 14th overall pick. Foote was the eighth Kelowna Rockets player in team history to be drafted in the first round.

On September 22, 2017, Foote was named as the 23rd captain in the Kelowna Rockets history. On April 1, 2018, Foote was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Professional

After signing his entry-level contract, Foote joined the Syracuse Crunch, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Lightning. On April 6, 2018, Foote made his professional ice hockey debut in a 4–3 Crunch shootout loss to the Binghamton Devils. Foote scored the first goal of the game on his first shot. In his first full professional season, Foote scored 10 goals and 21 assists, for a total of 31 points. In four games in the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs, he went scoreless.

Foote was one of the eight players called up to the Lightning for their training camp prior to the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs. In the 2020–21 season, on January 13, 2021, Foote made his NHL debut in a 5–1 Lightning win in the season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks. On January 30, Foote scored his first NHL goal and point against Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators. On March 25, Foote recorded his first career NHL assist.

During his third season with the Lightning, his first full-time season in the NHL in 2022–23, Foote added one goal and two assists through 26 regular season games before he was traded by Tampa Bay, along with five future draft picks, to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Tanner Jeannot on February 26, 2023. He finished the season playing in 24 games with Nashville, scoring one goal and three points.

Following his brief stint with the Predators, Foote was signed by the New Jersey Devils, reuniting with his brother Nolan by agreeing to a one-year, two-way contract on August 9, 2023. He failed to make the team, and was placed on waivers on October 4. After going unclaimed, he was assigned to New Jersey's AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, to start the 2023–24 season. He was recalled by New Jersey on October 23 and remained on the Devils' roster for two weeks without ever appearing, before being return to the AHL on November 10. He was recalled again on January 9, 2024 after Jonas Siegenthaler was placed on injured reserve.

On January 24, the Devils announced that Foote and forward Michael McLeod were granted indefinite leaves of absence from the team. In the offseason, Foote was a restricted free agent. The Devils did not give him a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.

On September 18, 2024, Foote signed a one-year contract with MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš of the Slovak Extraliga. Early in the 2024–25 season, Foote received a one-game suspension for an illegal check to the head committed on September 22 in just the second game of the season, against HK Poprad.

On September 11, 2025, the NHL announced Foote would be eligible to sign a contract on October 15, and would be eligible to return to play on December 1. On December 1, 2025, Foote signed a one-year AHL-only contract with the Chicago Wolves, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Wolves governor and chairman stated that it was "one-hundred percent not a Chicago Wolves signing... the signing is out of our control" as the Hurricanes have had full control over all signings to the AHL team since 2024.

On July 28, 2026, Foote signed a one-year contract with Färjestad BK of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Two days later, on July 30, 2026, the team announced that they had rescinded the contract, after fan objections due to Foote's sexual assault accusation, making Foote a free agent again.

International play

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place2018 Canada

Although Foote was born and raised in Colorado he decided to represent his father's country in international hockey. On December 6, 2017, Foote was named to Canada national junior team's selection camp roster for the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. On January 5, 2018, Foote won a gold medal with Canada national junior team.

On March 27, 2023, as part of the development of the sexual assault scandal, Hockey Canada announced that every member of Canada's 2018 World Junior team would be ineligible for all international competitions until investigations were complete. On August 12, 2026, Hockey Canada updated its suspensions and stated that due to a breach of conduct, Foote would be suspended from international competitions through November 10, 2026.

Personal life

Foote is the son of former NHL defenceman Adam Foote. He was drafted eight picks higher than his father was in 1989, when his father was drafted 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques. Foote's younger brother Nolan was his teammate when he played in Kelowna. Nolan was drafted 27th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On January 30, 2024, Foote, Devils teammate Michael McLeod, and three other NHL players were charged with sexual assault over a 2018 alleged assault in London, Ontario. On February 5, 2024, the London Police Service announced that Foote had been charged with one count of sexual assault. The trial began in April 2025, trial proceedings were declared a mistrial twice, before the jury was dismissed and the justice adjudicated the case herself. He was acquitted on July 24, 2025, of the charges laid against him.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GPGAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
2014–15 Omaha Lancers USHL 20110 —————
2015–16 Kelowna Rockets WHL 718283636 1818912
2016–17 Kelowna Rockets WHL 716515741 1416724
2017–18 Kelowna Rockets WHL 6019517046 41564
2017–18 Syracuse Crunch AHL 61014 71120
2018–19 Syracuse Crunch AHL 7610213153 40000
2019–20 Syracuse Crunch AHL 626222838 —————
2020–21 Syracuse Crunch AHL 61344 —————
2020–21 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 3512329 —————
2021–22 Syracuse Crunch AHL 50000 —————
2021–22 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 5627929 130226
2022–23 Tampa Bay Lightning NHL 2612328 —————
2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 2413435 —————
2023–24 Utica Comets AHL 2427917 —————
2023–24 New Jersey Devils NHL 401116 —————
2024–25 MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš Slovak 383273035 —————
2025–26 Chicago Wolves AHL 484141820 21381130
NHL totals 14551520137 130226

International

Year Team Event Result GPGAPtsPIM
2018 Canada WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 70330
Junior totals 70330

Awards and honours

Award Year Ref
NHL
Stanley Cup champion 2021

References

  1. ↑ Burns, Bryan (June 23, 2017). "First-round pick Cal Foote 'excited' to join Lightning". Tampa Bay Lightning. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  2. ↑ Fisher, Larry (August 31, 2015). "Foote brothers have bright futures with Rockets". kelownadailycourier.ca. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Callan Foote Scouting Profile". NHL.com. June 23, 2017. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Smith, Joe (June 23, 2017). "Lightning takes defenseman Cal Foote with top pick in draft". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Lightning go defense by taking Cal Foote with the 14th pick". NHL.com. Fox Sports Sun. June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  6. ↑ Bain, Kevin (June 23, 2017). "Foote Taken by Tampa Bay in Round One of the NHL Entry Draft". Kelowna Rockets. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  7. ↑ Bain, Kevin (September 22, 2017). "Rockets Unveil 23rd Captain in Franchise History". Kelowna Rockets. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Lightning sign Cal Foote to entry-level contract". NHL.com. Tampa Bay Lightning. April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  9. ↑ Kramer, Lindsay (April 2, 2018). "Tampa Bay first-rounder expected to join Syracuse Crunch lineup this week". Syracuse.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Syracuse Crunch blows leads, falls to Binghamton in shootout". Syracuse.com. April 6, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Lightning announce 2020 training camp roster, schedule". Tampa Bay Lightning. July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020 – via NHL.com.
  12. ↑ "Cal Foote to make NHL debut tonight in 2020-21 opener". Tampa Bay Lightning. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via NHL.com.
  13. ↑ King, Scott (January 13, 2021). "Blackhawks Drop NHL 2020-21 Season Opener 5-1 to Lightning". NBC Chicago. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  14. ↑ Encina, Eduardo A. (January 30, 2021). "Lightning rookie Cal Foote scores first NHL goal". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Tampa Bay Lightning and Vasilevskiy win streaks stopped in 4-3 loss to Stars". rawcharge.com. March 28, 2021. Archived from the original on August 22, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Predators acquire five draft picks, Defenseman Cal Foote from Tampa Bay". Nashville Predators. February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "Cal Foote Signs One-Year, Two-Way Deal with Devils". New Jersey Devils. August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 10, 2023 – via NHL.com.
  18. ↑ "Devils Assign, Waive Two Players | Blog". New Jersey Devils. October 4, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2025 – via NHL.com.
  19. ↑ "Devils' Cal Foote: Summoned from minors". CBS Sports. October 23, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Foote Re-Assigned | Blog". New Jersey Devils. November 10, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2025 – via NHL.com.
  21. ↑ "Devils' Cal Foote: Rises to top level". CBS Sports. January 9, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Devils Statement on McLeod and Foote". New Jersey Devils. January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024 – via NHL.com.
  23. ↑ Novozinsky, Ryan (January 24, 2024). "Devils' Michael McLeod, Cal Foote granted leave as 2018 Hockey Canada investigation heats up". NJ.com. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Cal Foote: Let go by team". CBS Sports. June 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  25. ↑ O'Brien, Derek (September 18, 2024). "Cal Foote signs with Slovak club". The Hockey News. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Liga sa ešte len začala a disciplinárka už zarezáva: Nekompromisné tresty pre dvojicu hokejistov". Športky.sk (in Slovak). September 24, 2024. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  27. ↑ "NHL statement on status of Dube, Foote, Formenton, Hart, McLeod". NHL.com. National Hockey League. September 11, 2025. Retrieved September 12, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Cal Foote signs AHL contract with Chicago Wolves". Sportsnet. December 1, 2025. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Front Office Sports (@FOS) on X". X (formerly Twitter). December 2, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Cal Foote klar". Färjestad BK (in Swedish). July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Färjestad BK avslutar samarbetet med Cal Foote". Färjestad BK (in Swedish). July 30, 2026. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
  32. ↑ Nugent-Bowman, Daniel (November 6, 2017). "Cal Foote's desire to play for Canada about more than dad's resume". Sportsnet. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Wide open competition for spots as Canada names WJC camp roster". TSN. December 6, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
  34. ↑ Macleod, Robert (January 5, 2018). "World junior gold gives Canada its hockey glory of the year". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Hockey Canada rules 2018 junior players ineligible for international competition pending investigation | CBC Sports". CBC. Archived from the original on November 17, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Hockey Canada upholds suspensions for four players acquitted of sexual assault charges, lifts one". Reuters. August 12, 2026. Retrieved September 28, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Callan Foote following in father's footsteps". National Hockey League. June 23, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  38. ↑ Wyshynski, Greg (April 7, 2011). "Adam Foote's retirement and the last of the Nordiques". Puck Daddy. Retrieved June 24, 2017 – via Yahoo! Sports.
  39. ↑ Westhead, Rick [@rwesthead] (January 30, 2024). "A lawyer for Cal Foote confirms that the New Jersey Devil defenceman has been charged with sexual assault and says that Foote is innocent" (Tweet). Retrieved January 30, 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  40. ↑ "Four more members of 2018 World Juniors team charged with sexual assault". Sportsnet. January 30, 2024. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  41. ↑ "2018 Sexual Assault Investigation". London Police Service. Retrieved February 5, 2024.[permanent dead link]
  42. ↑ Speakman, Kimberlee (May 17, 2025). "Judge Dismisses Jury for Sexual Assault Trial of 5 Hockey Players After Jurors Claim Attorneys Made Fun of Them". People. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Judge dismisses jury in Canadian sexual assault case". ESPN. Associated Press. May 16, 2025. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
  44. ↑ "London Hockey Trial of five former members of Canada's 2018 World Juniors - Timeline of developments". TSN. April 27, 2025. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  45. ↑ Yousif, Nadine (July 24, 2025). "Five ice hockey players found not guilty in Canada sexual assault case". BBC News.
  46. ↑ Kaplan, Emily (July 7, 2021). "Tampa Bay Lightning close out Montreal Canadiens in Game 5 to win second straight Stanley Cup". ESPN. Retrieved October 12, 2021.