from article:
rest - good article - plus videoDescribed as a warrior by Avalanche center Matt Duchene and intense by right wing Alex Tanguay, who played with him on the 2001 Cup-winning team, Foote revealed it took him a while to accept his role as a shutdown defenseman who wouldn't be required to contribute much on offense.
"No one knows this, but I didn't like my [defensive] role at the start," said Foote, who, ironically, is in his first year as a defensive development consultant with the Avalanche. "I was more of an offensive player growing up in junior, and I got put in a role of playing against the top lines. Some guys can do that and play top power play. There were some guys better at it, but I was not at ease with that role for a very long time. When you start hearing compliments from players you played against, that made it a little bit easier.
"I was a guy who wanted a bigger role. [Former Avalanche assistant coach] Bryan Trottier was one of the first guys who let me play more power play. Then, all of a sudden, I guess I grew up and realized we need all different kinds of players to win. I was older and more mature. I was at peace with myself probably the last five or six years of my career with that role. I enjoyed it and relished it."
http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6...d=nhl:topheads