Blackhawks send Nick Foligno to play with brother on Wild
The Minnesota Wild have traded for Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Folignogiving him a possibility to play with his brother, Marcus.
The deal is for future issues, sources stated, and is considered as Chicago doing its captain a stable so he has an opportunity to chase a Stanley Cup. There isn’t any retention on the deal, because the Blackhawks have already used their three retention spots.
Nick Foligno, 38, is on the ultimate yr of a two-year pact he signed with the Blackhawks that pays him $4.5 million yearly — which brings the Wild shut to the wage cap and probably accomplished doing enterprise after buying ahead Bobby Brink earlier Friday and Michael McCarron earlier within the week.
According to PuckPedia, Minnesota has $5.25 million in out there cap area after taking on Foligno’s full wage.
The Wild additionally traded middle Vinnie Hinostroza to the Florida Panthers for future issues.
Foligno had hinted at a doable transfer in media availability Thursday with the Blackhawks.
“It’s tough,” Foligno stated of his state of affairs. “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 consider on this group a lot. It’s been an absolute honor to be the captain right here. I’m nonetheless absolutely dedicated to that till I’m instructed in any other case. But there is a competitor inside you too, that desires to play significant video games.”
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill confirmed the trade.
“Obviously, one, I’m pleased for him,” Blashill told reporters. “As I stated yesterday, I want we had been 10 factors in and none of this occurs, however we’re not. And for a possibility to go and play with your brother, be a part of one thing with your brother. I’ve obtained a brother, and it would be an unbelievable factor. And so I do know meaning a ton to him and his household. I understand how vital that’s.”
The coach said he appreciated Foligno and the other veterans helping with such a young roster.
“We’ve simply had nice papa bears which have helped these younger guys alongside, and Nick actually led us in that,” he said.
The Wild have one of the best records in the NHL and are going for it, getting 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. He 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, Matvey Michkov and Owen Tippett as well as the eventual arrival of top prospect Porter Martone.
Jiricek was the sixth total choose within the 2022 draft by the Columbus Blue Jacketswho despatched him to the Wild in a 2024 commerce for defenseman Daemon Hunt and four draft picks. Jiricek split his time between Minnesota and the AHL Iowa Wild this season, unable to fulfill his potential after coming to the NHL club. Jiricek has untapped offensive upside, but there are concerns about his defense and skating ability. He is also a restricted free agent this offseason.
The Wild have been busy this deadline, having also acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from Florida and McCarron from nashville.
