Foote, the last member of the Quebec Nordiques to play in the NHL, was a solid stay-at-home defenseman who won the Stanley Cup twice with the Colorado Avalanche, an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2002 and a World Cup of Hockey championship with Canada in 2004.

The Nordiques selected Foote in the first round (No. 22) of the 1989 NHL Draft after his first season with Sault Ste. Marie of the Ontario Hockey League, where he would play two more seasons before making his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Oct. 19, 1991.

He finished his rookie season with seven points (two goals, five assists) in 46 games.

Foote played three more seasons with the Nordiques before they moved to Colorado in the summer of 1995. And though he didn't contribute a lot offensively in 1995-96 (16 points in 73 games), Foote was plus-27 and played a vital shutdown role as the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup.

Five seasons later, Foote again played the same role for Colorado. After being limited to 35 regular-season games, he had seven points (three goals, four assists) in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games to help the Avalanche defeat the New Jersey Devils, the defending champions, in seven games in the Cup Final.

One year later, Foote won the gold medal with Canada at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. He then set NHL career highs in goals (11) and points (31) in 2002-03, and the following year, he made the all-tournament team at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey after helping Canada finish first.

Foote's career took a new turn following the lockout season of 2004-05 as he signed a three-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Aug. 2, 2005. He was soon named captain, but the Blue Jackets were unable to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they traded him back to the Avalanche on Feb. 26, 2008.

Foote remained with Colorado, who named him captain on Sept. 11, 2009, until retiring after the 2010-11 season. In 1,154 regular-season games, Foote had 308 points (66 goals, 242 assists), as well as 42 points (seven goals, 35 assists) in 170 playoff games.

The Avalanche retired No. 52 in Foote's honor on Nov. 2, 2013.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• OHL First All-Star Team (1991)
• Transferred to Colorado after Quebec franchise relocated, June 21, 1995.
• Missed majority of 2000-01 due to shoulder injury vs. Carolina, January 6, 2001.
• Signed as a free agent by Columbus, August 2, 2005.
• Traded to Colorado by Columbus for Colorado's 1st round pick (later traded to Philadelphia, Philadelphia selected Luca Sbisa) in 2008 NHL Draft and Colorado's 4th round pick (David Savard) in 2009 NHL Draft, February 26, 2008.
• Officially announced his retirement, April 8, 2011.