Nick Foligno has been traded to the Minnesota Wild by the Chicago Blackhawks. The move gives him the chance to play alongside his brother, Marcus. The deal is for future considerations.
Sources indicate that the Blackhawks are doing their captain a favour by allowing him to compete for a Stanley Cup. The Blackhawks have already used their three retention spots, so there is no retention on the deal.
Foligno’s Contract and the Wild’s Cap Space
Nick Foligno, aged 38, is in the final year of a two-year contract with the Blackhawks. The contract pays him $4.5 million annually. After acquiring forward Bobby Brink and Michael McCarron earlier in the week, this deal brings the Wild close to the salary cap.
According to PuckPedia, the Wild have $5.25 million in available cap space after taking on Foligno’s full salary.
Foligno’s Reaction to the Trade
Foligno hinted at a possible move during media availability with the Blackhawks on Thursday. He acknowledged the difficulty of the situation. He stated that he had made it clear how much he cares about the team.
“It’s tough,” Foligno said of his situation. “I’ve made it clear how much I care about this group. You feel weird when you have those hard conversations, but it’s the reality of where we’re sitting. There’s always a personal thing you go through too. You still want to compete, battle and win. So that’s the fight that you have.
“I believe in this group so much. It’s been an absolute honour to be the captain here. I’m still fully committed to that until I’m told otherwise. But there’s a competitor inside of you too, that wants to play meaningful games.”
Coach Blashill’s Perspective
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill confirmed the trade. “Obviously, one, I’m happy for him,” Blashill told reporters. “As I said yesterday, I wish we were 10 points in and none of this happens, but we’re not. And for an opportunity to go and play with your brother, be part of something with your brother. I’ve got a brother, and it’d be an unbelievable thing. And so I know that means a ton to him and his family. I know how important that is.”
The coach also expressed his appreciation for Foligno and the other veterans. They helped the young players on the roster. “We’ve just had great papa bears that have helped these young guys along, and Nick certainly led us in that,” he said.
The Wild’s Other Moves
The Wild also traded center Vinnie Hinostroza to the Florida Panthers for future considerations. They acquired Brink from the Flyers for 22-year-old defenseman David Jiricek.
- Brink, 24, is a Minnesota native who was drafted in the second round (34th overall) in 2019 by the Flyers.
- The fourth-year NHL player has 13 goals and 13 assists in 55 games, skating to a minus-5.
- Brink is a playmaker with a strong two-way game, bolstering the Wild’s forward depth.
Brink will be a restricted free agent this summer.
The Flyers made him available due to their own considerable depth on the wing with players like Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett as well as the eventual arrival of top prospect Porter Martone.
Jiricek was the sixth overall pick in the 2022 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Wild have one of the better records in the NHL and are going for it.