Major problem inside the Blackhawks locker room exposed by head coach Luke Richardson

Veteran players play an important role in rebuilding NHL teams, as they serve as mentors and provide a foundation for younger players.

A lot of these veterans like Nick Foligno were brought in during the off-season to give Connor Bedard a rock to fall back on. As Foligno has invited him for dinner and built a strong relationship with the rookie, their bond is undeniable on and off the ice.

There is, however, a downside to having too many veterans on the team, as Luke Richardson points out.




The veterans sometimes seem too honest with the rookies, in his opinion.

Richardson joked at one point that maybe the veteran guys would go too far and rip the helmets off of the rookies.

«You got to be careful, like, OK, we're too honest with young guys, right? Let's settle down, I think they're going to put 'em in a headlock and rip their helmet off.»

—Luke Richardson on whether Nick Foligno and Colin Blackwell can be «too talkative» in the locker room pic.twitter.com/yMwJcx1AqS— Phillip Thompson (@_phil_thompson) March 14, 2024

There was a feeling he felt they were too honest, such as Nick Foligno calling out teammates in the media.

It is Richardson's understanding that they want to hold their teammates accountable for their actions to keep the rookies focused on understanding their mistakes and growing as players.

Understandably, veterans are fiery, as their dedication to the game persists, which is why they have remained in the NHL for so long.

In total, Nick Foligno played 1,140 games in the NHL from 2008-2009. His staying power has made him a great addition to the Blackhawks this year.

As a leader, Foligno won the Mark Messier Leadership Trophy and the King Clancy Memorial Trophy during the 2016-2017 NHL season.