An intriguing question swirled around the Chicago Blackhawks throughout the NHL offseason: who should be the team's next captain? That inquiry was answered on the eve of training camp as the Blackhawks named veteran forward Nick Foligno the 35th team captain in franchise history.
When longtime captain Jonathan Toews departed the Blackhawks after the 2022-23 season, Chicago elected not to dole out a "C" for the 2023-24 campaign. Foligno, acquired in an offseason trade, served as one of the team's alternate captains upon joining the Blackhawks.
His leadership qualities were evident on and off the ice as he guided rookie Connor Bedard and helped steady the locker room for a rebuilding team that finished with the third-worst record in the NHL. Fans often referred to Foligno as "de faCto" because of his guidance and professionalism through tough times, tabbing him as a leading candidate to become the Blackhawks' next captain when the team was ready to name one.
Many wondered if Chicago would remain captainless until the young Bedard is ready to take the helm , but general manager Kyle Davidson clearly valued Foligno's contributions enough to sign him to a two-year contract extension during the 2023-24 campaign and name him captain entering the upcoming season.
“In a very short amount of time, Nick has quickly earned the respect of his teammates and our staff,” Davidson said of Foligno. “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.”
Having served as the Columbus Blue Jackets' captain from 2015-21 , Foligno brings plenty of experience to the role in Chicago. In the latter stage of his career, the 36-year-old has embraced the Blackhawks' rebuild and is committed to restoring the franchise to the winning ways it enjoyed throughout the 2010s.
"I don't take this lightly. I'm excited about where we're heading. I love the group already," Foligno said in a team meeting. "I know what's come before us. You know, the leadership group that was here before us, the success that's been here. And I'm excited get us back to that with your help. I think that's the big thing is we're gonna do this together.
"Let's get to work."
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