Chicago Blackhawks veteran hints at shocking departure from the organization
Photo credit: The Chicago Crusader
Nick Foligno's recent statement in an interview with The Athletic's Mark Lazerus looks to be an admission of a future departure from the Blackhawks.
The Chicago Blackhawks organization has been fortunate to have veteran Nick Foligno in the lineup. In his second season with the team, he earned the Captain's "C" and wears it proudly for the original-six team.
But nothing is set in stone for the Blackhawks who are undergoing a youth movement, as more star prospects arrived in Chicago this week, Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel. A sign that any Blackhawks veteran's time may be ending in the organization.
However, instead of worrying about the future with the Blackhawks, he's worried about the game tonight against the Colorado Avalanche and wants to win no matter what.
Serving as the team's motivator, has been a part of the team since the 2023-2024 season and signed a two-year deal with GM Kyle Davidson.
«Honestly, I've never looked at it like, 'Oh, I'd love to be a part of this down the road,'» he said on Tuesday, in a locker room suddenly bursting at the seams with players nearly young enough to be Foligno's sons. «I'm proud to be a part of this right now. I knew what I signed up for when I got here. Sometimes it's heartbreaking and sometimes it's frustrating, but then there's the reward at the end. That's what I want to make sure these young guys understand."
He's been fortunate enough to see the Blackhawks through two years of a rebuild, and now that 1st-round picks Frank Nazar, Kevin Korchinski, and Oliver Moore will be playing a game together since the 2022 draft date.
You have to wonder if Foligno's days are numbered?
Foligno knew what he was in for when he signed on the dotted line for the Blackhawks, and that's to help impart wisdom to teammates, instill the kind of discipline they need on the ice, and build them into a winning group.
It's been his main motivator the last two years in Chicago. Now we could see the final product soon with Kyle Davidson promoting prospects into Rockford and Chicago.
«I'd love to be here to reap the benefits, but it's not about me at this point,» he said. «I'm not looking at it for myself. I'm looking at it for this group. And if it's not with me around, I'm going to be pretty damn proud sitting back on my rocking chair watching this team go in the next few years, knowing that I had a small part in it.»
Like anyone who's ever built something, as soon as it's complete, you have to step away.
With the statements by Foligno in Lazerus' piece, it appears he's come to terms with the fact he could be traded anytime in the future, and is okay with that knowledge.
He's put the Blackhawks team and organization on his shoulders to build something better, all the while remaining humble while doing so.
Foligno has the soft skills off the ice and the performance on the ice that make him valuable to any NHL organization. Should he find himself in another uniform, they'll be lucky to have him.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 2 | 569 ANSWERS Chicago Blackhawks veteran hints at shocking departure from the organization Do you think GM Kyle Davidson and the Chicago Blackhawks will trade forward Nick Foligno? | ||
| Yes | 316 | 55.5 % |
| No | 253 | 44.5 % |
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