It was only a matter of time until the Blackhawks named a new captain after Jonathan Toews.
Now we know who it is. A year after keeping the position vacant out of respect for Toews’ legacy, the Blackhawks named Nick Foligno as their 35th captain in franchise history on Wednesday.
Foligno, 36, was the obvious choice for Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson and coach Luke Richardson. Last season might as well have been an audition for Foligno. His outgoing personality and leadership qualities quickly took over the Blackhawks dressing room in his first year with the organization. He took Connor Bedard under his wing, held the team to professional standards, stood in front of the media in tense moments and kept the room light during a challenging season.
The moment Nick learned he became Captain🥹 pic.twitter.com/i2nhCpEnQk
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 18, 2024
“In a very short amount of time, Nick has quickly earned the respect of his teammates and our staff,” Davidson said in a statement. “Nick’s commanding presence in the locker room has been instrumental in helping the team find its identity. He has served as a mentor to many of our young players both on and off the ice while also heading up the leadership group comprised of our veteran players, and we are beyond confident that he will flourish in the role of captain as we usher in a new era of Blackhawks hockey.”
Davidson acquired the rights to Foligno from the Boston Bruins at the 2023 NHL Draft hoping he would be just that. Then Davidson persuaded him to sign a one-year contract. Foligno won over the room and Davidson last season, and Davidson re-signed Foligno in January to a two-year contract extension.
Even this offseason, Foligno continued to show captain-like attributes before being given the captain title. He reached out to free-agent targets to sell the Blackhawks and welcomed the team’s draft picks with a text message.
This will be Foligno’s second time as a captain. He also held the position with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Foligno understands the respect and weight of the position.
“The fact that Danny (Wirtz), Kyle, Luke and my teammates have all put their faith in me to lead this amazing group is extremely humbling, and I thank them all for the opportunity,” Foligno said in a statement. “I am beyond honored to serve as captain for this storied franchise and its incredible fans, especially during such a pivotal time toward the team’s future.”
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(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
