Cal Foote signs AHL contract with Chicago Wolves following acquittal and return to professional hockey

Cal Foote has signed an American Hockey League contract with the Chicago Wolves, marking his formal return to professional hockey four months after being acquitted in the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. The 26-year-old defenseman became the fourth of five former Canadian world junior players to resume his career following the July verdict that found all five not guilty of charges related to an alleged 2018 incident in London, Ontario.

The Wolves, who serve as the AHL affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced the standard player contract on Monday, allowing Foote to begin playing immediately after the NHL’s mandated waiting period expired on December 1. The signing represents a second chance for the first-round draft pick who last appeared in the NHL during the 2023-24 season with the New Jersey Devils before the charges effectively paused his career.

How Cal Foote acquittal leads to Chicago Wolves AHL contract and career restart

The path back to professional hockey began on July 24, 2025, when a London, Ontario judge acquitted Foote along with Carter Hart, Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, and Dillon Dube of sexual assault charges stemming from an alleged incident involving a woman in a hotel room following a Hockey Canada gala in June 2018. The trial, which examined events from when the players were members of Canada’s gold medal-winning world junior team, concluded with not guilty verdicts for all defendants.

Following the acquittal, the NHL conducted its own review of the matter before announcing in September that the five players would be eligible to sign new contracts beginning October 15, with the caveat that they could not play in league games until December 1. This carefully constructed timeline allowed teams to evaluate the players while giving the hockey community time to process the court’s decision and its implications for the sport.

The Chicago Wolves acted decisively once the signing window opened, bringing Foote into their organization through a straightforward AHL deal rather than a two-way NHL contract. This approach provides both parties flexibility as Foote rebuilds his career and demonstrates his value to NHL organizations that may be monitoring his progress from a distance.

The defenseman had spent the past year in professional limbo after the Devils declined to extend him a qualifying offer in summer 2024, making him a free agent just weeks before charges were formally laid. That timing meant Foote never had an opportunity to establish himself with a new organization before his career was put on hold pending the legal proceedings.

Cal Foote’s career trajectory before Chicago Wolves AHL signing after acquittal

Drafted 14th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017, Foote arrived in professional hockey with significant expectations as a first-round selection from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. The son of former NHL defenseman Adam Foote, Callan brought pedigree and size to the blue line, standing 6-foot-4 and weighing over 220 pounds.

Foote’s NHL journey began with the Lightning during the 2020-21 season, though his tenure in Tampa Bay was brief. He appeared in 15 games for the Lightning before being claimed by the Nashville Predators, where he saw limited action. His most substantial NHL opportunity came with the New Jersey Devils, where he played 56 games across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, recording two goals and eight assists while establishing himself as a depth defenseman capable of handling third-pairing responsibilities.

The statistical record shows a player still developing his offensive game at the highest level, with three goals and 11 assists in 99 career NHL games. However, his physical tools and defensive positioning made him a useful roster option for teams seeking right-handed depth on the blue line. His AHL performance had been more productive, demonstrating an ability to contribute at that level while awaiting NHL opportunities.

The disruption caused by the legal case meant Foote lost a crucial year of development at age 26, typically a period when defensemen either establish themselves as full-time NHLers or solidify their status as top-end AHL players capable of reliable call-up duty. His return with Chicago provides an opportunity to recapture that lost season and prove he remains a viable NHL prospect.

Hockey community response to Cal Foote Chicago Wolves signing after acquittal

The announcement of Foote’s signing has generated measured reactions across the hockey world, reflecting the complexity of the case and the broader conversations about accountability in professional sports. While the court’s verdict established legal innocence, the NHL’s delayed reinstatement acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and the need for a thoughtful approach to reintegrating the players.

Wolves management has not issued extensive public comment beyond the standard announcement, focusing on the hockey merits of adding a player with Foote’s size and experience to their roster. The organization appears committed to treating this as a standard player personnel move rather than engaging in broader discussions about the surrounding circumstances.

Teammates and coaches who worked with Foote during his Devils tenure have remained largely silent publicly, though sources within the organization previously characterized him as a quiet professional who kept to himself in the locker room. The hockey community’s response has mirrored the restraint shown following Carter Hart’s signing with Vegas, where the focus remained on on-ice performance rather than off-ice controversy.

For Foote personally, the Chicago opportunity offers a lower-pressure environment to resume his career away from the intense media scrutiny that would accompany an immediate NHL return. The AHL provides a familiar setting where he can re-establish his game timing, physical conditioning, and confidence before potentially pursuing NHL opportunities later in the season or during the 2026-27 campaign.

Where other players acquitted with Cal Foote stand after Chicago Wolves signing

The five players acquitted together have taken divergent paths back to professional hockey, reflecting their different career stages and opportunities available when the NHL’s signing window opened.

Carter Hart secured the most prominent landing spot, inking a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights and potentially debuting as early as Tuesday against the Ottawa Senators. The 26-year-old goaltender represents the highest-profile player among the five, with a proven NHL track record that made him an attractive free agent target despite the circumstances.

Michael McLeod, who also faced an additional charge of being party to the offense of sexual assault, returned to Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League with a three-year deal at Avangard Omsk. His path mirrors his immediate post-charge decision from 2024, when he signed with Barys Astana in Kazakhstan. The KHL provided a stable alternative when NHL opportunities vanished following the charges.

Alex Formenton took a different route entirely, leaving North American hockey two years before charges were laid. The Ottawa Senators declined to re-sign him after the 2021-22 season, prompting his move to HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland’s top league. His Swiss League career continued uninterrupted during the legal proceedings, and he remains overseas.

Dillon Dube, who spent the 2024-25 season with Dinamo Minsk in the KHL, currently sits as the only acquitted player not under contract for the 2025-26 season. The 27-year-old winger’s status remains uncertain as teams weigh the hockey value against the public relations considerations of adding a player from this case.

The collective situation represents an unprecedented challenge for hockey’s culture and governance, forcing the NHL to balance legal outcomes with league values. The staggered returns through different leagues and countries highlight how each player must now rebuild not just their careers, but their reputations within the sport.

Cal Foote’s journey with the Chicago Wolves begins as another chapter in this ongoing story—one where performance on the ice will ultimately determine whether this AHL contract becomes a stepping stone back to the NHL or the final chapter of a once-promising career interrupted by events from his teenage years.