Adam Foote Adam David Vernon Foote ( born July 10 , 1971 ) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman . He was best known for his physical presence and gritty play as a stay - at - home defenceman . Foote was drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League ( OHL ) 22nd overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques . He began his NHL career with Quebec in 1991 – 92 before relocating with the franchise to Colorado , where he won two Stanley Cups in 1996 and 2001 . In 2005 , Foote signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets where he served as team captain for three seasons . Internationally , Foote won a gold medal in 2002 Winter Olympics and a World Cup championship in 2004 with Team Canada . Playing career . Foote grew up playing hockey for the Brooklin - Whitby Minor Hockey Association ( OMHA ) . He was a teammate of future NHLer Keith Primeau for several years , leading their teams to several OMHA " AA " Championships in the early 1980s . After a successful midget season with Brooklin - Whitby ' s AA team , Foote was a 2nd round underage choice ( 21st overall ) of the Sault Ste . Marie Greyhounds in the 1988 OHL Priority Selection . Foote went on to play three OHL seasons with the Greyhounds , winning a J . Ross Robertson Cup and appearing in the Memorial Cup in his final season under future NHL head coach Ted Nolan . Foote was selected 22nd overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft . He played for Quebec for four seasons until the franchise moved to Colorado ( and became the Colorado Avalanche ) in 1995 – 96 . Foote won his first of two Stanley Cup s with the Avalanche that year , sweeping the Florida Panthers in the Finals . Five years later , Foote helped the Avalanche to a second Stanley Cup championship in 2001 , defeating the New Jersey Devils in seven games . The following season , in 2001 – 02 , Foote recorded a career - high 22 assists in the regular season before missing out on his second straight Stanley Cup Finals appearance with the Avalanche , losing in seven games to the Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals . In 2002 – 03 , Foote had another career - year offensively , scoring personal bests of 11 goals and 31 points . After a 30 - point campaign in 2003 – 04 , he remained inactive in 2004 – 05 due to the NHL lockout . When NHL play was set to resume in 2005 – 06 , Foote parted ways with the Avalanche franchise after thirteen seasons , signing a three - year contract worth $ 13 . 5 million with the Columbus Blue Jackets on August 1 , 2005 . He was immediately named an alternate captain for the upcoming season , but was assigned the Blue Jackets ' captaincy in December 2005 when defenceman Luke Richardson stepped down from the position . He became the fourth captain in franchise history . Three seasons later , with his contract set to expire , Foote was traded from the Blue Jackets back to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for two conditional draft picks on February 26 , 2008 . The trade occurred amid speculation that the Blue Jackets were trying to re - sign Foote to keep him in Columbus , but could not meet Foote ' s asking price . Later that night , he arrived in Calgary during the first period to play against the Flames . Foote managed one goal and 15 assists for a total of 16 points in 75 games with the Avs and Blue Jackets combined . On June 30 , 2008 , Foote agreed to re - sign with the Avalanche with a two - year $ 6 million deal at $ 3 million per season . His first full season back in Colorado was cut short by injury and he managed just 42 games . Further major injuries to key players in the lineup resulted in the Avalanche finishing in last place in the Western Conference . The following off - season long - time Avalanche captain Joe Sakic announced his retirement . As training camp was set to begin for the 2009 – 10 season , Foote was named Sakic ' s successor on September 11 , 2009 , becoming the eighth captain in franchise history ( including the Nordiques ) and just the second in Avalanche history . On May 25 , 2010 , the Avalanche re - signed Foote to a one - year contract extension for the 2010 - 11 NHL season worth approximately $ 1 million . On April 10 , 2011 , Foote played his last game with the Avalanche , winning 4 - 3 in OT against the Edmonton Oilers during the season finale . He was awarded first star of the game . Personal life . Adam is married to Jennifer and they have 2 sons ; Callan Hayden , who was born prematurely on December 13 , 1998 and Nolan , who was born in December 2000 . International play . Foote debuted for Team Canada at the inaugural World Cup in 1996 , scoring one goal as Canada finished as runner - up to the United States . Two years later , Foote was named to Team Canada for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano , Japan . The tournament marked the first time NHL players were allowed to participate in the Olympics . Foote managed an assist in six games as Canada finished in fourth place , losing to the Czech Republic in the semi - finals , then Finland in the bronze medal game . At the next Winter Olympics in 2002 , Foote helped Canada end a 50 - year gold medal drought in the ice hockey tournament by defeating the United States in the final . He won another championship two years later and was even selected to the Tournament All - Star Team in his second World Cup in 2004 , defeating Finland in the final . Selected to play in his third Olympics at the 2006 Games in Turin , Italy , Canada finished a disappointing seventh place while attempting to defend their gold medal .