Blackhawks Nick Foligno publicly calls out teammates

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Janessa Ladouceur
April 20, 2024 (11:12)

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Forward Veteran Nick Foligno displayed true leadership qualities by fearlessly addressing his team whenever he believed their commitment and performance fell short of expectations.

In their quest to strengthen the team during the offseason, the Chicago Blackhawks made a significant move by acquiring veteran forward Nick Foligno, who had previously served as the captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets for multiple seasons. The main purpose of this acquisition was to bring a valuable element of leadership to a youthful roster that was set to be led by the exceptional rookie forward Connor Bedard, the first overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Foligno exceeded expectations and secured a two-year contract extension in the middle of the season. Foligno made it clear during his end-of-season press conference that Chicago cannot afford to repeat the disappointing performance of losing 53 games in regulation this past campaign.

Demonstrating true leadership, he openly criticized his team when he believed their effort and dedication fell short of the required standard.

Here's what Foligno had to say

"We can't go through this again, I want to change. We can't go through this again. And I certainly won't allow it. Either the mindset changes from the group or personnel changes. That's just the way it is in the NHL. I'm looking for the positives and things that we can build off of, and that's why it's so disappointing. We want to feel good about yourself going into the offseason. But then again, we are a team that needs to make some changes here, and this isn't good enough."

During the course of this season, Foligno showcased his skills by scoring 17 goals and providing 20 assists in 74 games played. This remarkable performance came in his debut season with the Chicago team, following his transfer from the Boston Bruins. Looking ahead, Foligno's two-year extension is scheduled to commence in the upcoming season.