Best Foote Forward | FEATURE

Nolan Foote was drafted in the first round (27th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning had also drafted his brother, Cal, in 2017, setting up a possible brother tandem in Florida.
It was not meant to be as Foote would be traded to New Jersey in a 2020 trade deadline deal. And the brother face-to-face matchup will also have to wait as the Lightning recently traded Cal to Nashville at trade deadline.
Still, when Nolan was inserted into the lineup last Sunday against the Lightning, the game still had a lot of meaning for the 6-foot-3, 196-pound forward.
"With my brother just there in the organization for five years and just got traded, I know a lot of those guys, met them through the years," Foote said. "It was pretty cool at the same time.
"Overall, it was a big showing for myself in Tampa Bay. The team that drafted me, that adds a little bit of pressure to it."

Foote started the game with a big check. He then hit a post during the first period. But his biggest contribution came in the third period with the Devils leading 3-2. Foote carried the puck over the blue line, pulled up above the circle and then quickly snapped a puck toward the net that beat goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy through the five-hole.
"That was nice to get that goal for sure," Foote said. "I was just trying to shoot through (Lightning defenseman Victor) Hedman and get it through the screen because he was screening Vasilevskiy and it happened to go in."

It was Foote's first goal of the season and in his first game since being recalled the previous Friday.
And it nearly wasn't to be.
Ahead of the game, the Devils coaching staff were debating on whether or not to insert Foote into the lineup or play with seven defensemen.
"We didn't make a decision until late, until warmup if we were going to with 11-7 or go with four lines. Really glad that we chose the four lines," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "I really liked his game. I didn't know what to expect.
"I thought his wall play (was good), it thought he was strong in his own end. In the offensive zone he did a great job forechecking, sealing walls, just a lot of real good play."
Foote has only played five games with the Devils this season, including the most recent two, while spending much of his time in Utica. And his improvement over the previous year was evident on the ice.
"I think it starts with skating. He's skating better," Ruff said. "His play around the puck, he seems strong around the puck. When your legs are stronger and you're not knocked off (the puck) you can get more done. He's getting to places quicker. With any young player he needs to understand that sometimes there is always a higher level that you need to get to. Sometimes they get that in a year or maybe two. He's been working really hard at his game and it's starting to show."
The Devils are dealing with some injuries on their fourth line with Nathan Bastian, Miles Wood and Curtis Lazar each missing the past two contests, which is creating an opening for some competition.
"For me to get those two games and feel pretty good out there helps your confidence, and it helps you going forward," Foote said. "I'm just going to go forward with that. We want our guys to get healthy ,but I'll be ready to play whenever."