Farjestad BK reverses decision on Cal Foote contract

By Liam Tremblay — 31 July 2026 — 3 min read

Färjestad BK, a team in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), has announced it will not proceed with signing defenceman Cal Foote. This decision comes just two days after the club initially stated that Foote would be joining the team on a one-year deal.

The club released a statement indicating that while they were aware of the scrutiny that would accompany the signing, recent developments made it clear that the situation had escalated to a point that could not be ignored. The statement, translated from Swedish, highlighted that the situation was affecting individuals connected to the club.

Foote, 27, was one of five players from the 2018 Canadian Junior Team who faced sexual assault charges. The incident occurred in June 2018 in London, Ontario, following the team’s gold medal win at the world juniors. The other players involved were Dillon Dubé, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, and Michael McLeod.

All five players were acquitted of the charges by Justice Maria V. Carroccia in July 2025. Following their acquittal, the National Hockey League (NHL) reinstated all five players, allowing them to return to the league as of December 1. Foote spent the last season playing with the AHL‘s Chicago Wolves.

Contract reversal and club’s statement

The initial announcement of Foote’s one-year contract with Färjestad BK was made on Tuesday. However, the Swedish team publicly reversed its decision on Thursday. The club explained that the initial decision to sign Foote followed a comprehensive review of the player, the sexual assault case, and a direct meeting with Foote.

Despite this initial assessment, the feedback and subsequent developments since the contract was announced led the club to conclude that the signing would not be in the best interest of either the team or the player. Concerns, disappointment, and questions were voiced by individuals close to the club, influencing the final decision.

Rickard Wallin, the sporting director for Färjestad BK, had previously stated that the club was aware of Foote’s history. He mentioned that extensive research and a careful assessment were conducted before the decision to welcome Foote to the club was made, emphasizing that the club holds all its representatives to high standards.

Foote’s recent career and NHL background

Before the recent contract with Färjestad BK, Foote played last season with the Chicago Wolves, the Carolina Hurricanes‘ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. During his time with the Wolves, he recorded four goals and 14 assists, accumulating 18 points in 48 games. He also contributed three goals and eight assists for 11 points in 21 playoff games, helping the team reach the Calder Cup final.

Foote was originally selected 14th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. His NHL career spans 145 games, during which he scored five goals and added 15 assists for a total of 20 points. He played for the Lightning, Nashville Predators, and New Jersey Devils.

He is the son of former NHL defenceman Adam Foote and the brother of Philadelphia Flyers forward Nolan Foote. Before his time with the Chicago Wolves, Foote spent the 2024-25 season overseas with Liptovsky Mikulas HK in Slovakia, where he registered three goals and 27 assists in 38 games.

Foote was playing for the New Jersey Devils when he was charged in 2024.

Source: sportsnet.ca