Cal Foote Steps Back Into Pro Hockey With New AHL Deal
So, here’s what’s going on with Cal Foote — and honestly, it’s a moment a lot of people in the hockey world have been waiting to understand more clearly. After a long and very public legal process, Foote is officially returning to professional hockey, and his next step has now been confirmed. The Chicago Wolves have announced that the 26-year-old defenceman has signed a standard AHL contract, marking his first return to the ice since everything surrounding the Hockey Canada case unfolded.
Foote, along with Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton and Dillon Dube, had been suspended from NHL play while facing charges connected to an alleged 2018 incident. But after being acquitted earlier this year, those suspensions have ended, and all five players are now eligible to resume their careers. For Foote, this move to Chicago represents a fresh start — not back in the NHL just yet, but a solid opportunity to rebuild his path within the Carolina Hurricanes’ system, since the Wolves serve as their affiliate.
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If you look back at his career, Foote had already shown plenty of potential before everything came to a halt. He played four NHL seasons between the Tampa Bay Lightning, Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils, after being selected 14th overall by Tampa in the 2017 draft. His last NHL action came during the 2023–24 season with New Jersey, and since then, the legal situation had essentially kept him off the ice at the highest level. Now, after more than a year away, his route back into pro hockey is finally opening again.
The Wolves confirmed that the contract is a standard AHL deal — nothing unusual, nothing conditional, just a straightforward agreement that brings Foote into their lineup. And for someone in his position, this kind of arrangement makes sense. It gives him a place to play meaningful minutes, re-establish his game rhythm and compete for a chance to work his way back up the ladder.
It’s also worth noting that this signing is happening at a moment when all eyes are on what comes next for these acquitted players. While some are expected to return directly to the NHL, others — like Foote — are taking a more gradual route. And sometimes, that step-by-step process is exactly what a player needs after so much time away from the game.
So right now, Foote’s story isn’t about jumping straight back into the spotlight. It’s about re-entry, stability and rebuilding. The Wolves are giving him that platform, and if he can regain his form, there’s every chance this move could help relaunch the next chapter of his career.
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