Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno opens up regarding career-ending injury

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Joshua Deeds
August 13, 2024 (7:17 PM)

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When the Montreal Canadiens played the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the North Division playoffs, Nick Foligno was injured.

Foligno had arrived in Toronto through trade from Columbus and was excited to arrive, where his father once played. It was exciting for the Foligno family, as he was a part of something special.

We got to see the trade playout in the series "All or Nothing" by Amazon, as the trade occurred during the Bubble, which split the NHL into multiple divisions, separated by regions.

The protections created many challenges for NHL players, away from home for long periods of time, in addition to the trip from Columbus to Toronto, Foligno wasn't in the best of health.

I was actually playing really well the first few games I was playing with and then for whatever reason my back just, I remember it actually, I remember feeling I woke up we had a long flight back from Vancouver. I got to Montreal or was it yeah Vancouver got to Montreal and uh just I don't know if it was the plane or what but just my back just was tight that night and I went to stop in front of the net and I have no idea why but for whatever reason boom everything just locked up. I was completely stuck couldn't even get off the ice actually, it was funny Josh Anderson was next to me and we played together in Columbus, and kind of like shoved me in front I'm like and he's like "oh my God are you all right?"

I'm like, "I can't move" like so he was like trying to help me off the ice and he's he was like "dude, what just happened?

His time in Toronto be would limited as a result of injuries plaguing him, pushing him in and out of the lineup. Foligno was known as a gritty forward, but couldn't manage to make it into playoff games as a result of his injuries.

The Leafs unsurprisingly would lose in the 1st round of the playoffs to the Canadiens.

«I felt like I could really help on the ice and off the ice to get them over the hump. That's why I picked [Toronto], that's why I felt like I wanted to go there to put my stamp on that team. That's probably the thing that bothered me the most. I think I was just so frustrated because I knew I was really hurt, and I knew how much they invested in me, and I was trying to push through it. I was a shell of myself.

«I couldn't help galvanize the team; I couldn't do what I wanted to do on and off the ice. I'm sure the Toronto fans are just as disappointed with how it all shook out. But I guarantee you, I'm more disappointed, and it's just something you're going to have to live with.»

He had plenty of qualities that would've brought the Maple Leafs success, but his injury didn't help him while he was in Toronto.

Foligno wouldn't sign with the Maple Leafs and instead, make his way to the rival Boston Bruins.

Source: Bruins Insider
Former Boston Bruins fan favourite opens up about career ending injury