The New Jersey Devils announced Wednesday that they have signed free-agent defenseman Cal Foote to a one-year, two-way contract. According to CapFriendly, the contract will have an average annual value (AAV) of $800,000.
The 24-year-old spent the 2022-23 season split between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Nashville Predators, where he registered seven points in 50 games while adding 58 hits and 52 blocked shots.
Foote was initially drafted No. 14 overall in the 2017 NHL Draft by the Lightning. During his three seasons in Tampa, Foote tallied four goals and 11 assists for 15 points in 117 regular season games. He added two points in 13 playoff games during the Bolts’ run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2021-22, where they lost to the Colorado Avalanche.
Foote was a member of the Bolts when they captured Lord Stanley for a second consecutive season in 2020-21. At the 2023 NHL trade deadline, Foote was dealt to the Nashville Predators in a whopping deal for Preds power-forward Tanner Jeannot. Foote added four points in 24 games with Smashville.
Prior to his pro career, Foote was a member of the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL). During his draft year, he notched six goals and 51 assists for 57 points in 71 games.
The following season, Foote was named captain of the Rockets and notched a career-high 70 points in 61 games; due to his performance, he was named to the WHL First All-Star Team. That same year, Foote represented Team Canada at the World Juniors, where he captured a gold medal.
Foote is the son of former NHLer Adam Foote, and his younger brother Nolan is also a member of the Devils organization.
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