Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Foligno calls out the Toronto Maple Leafs

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Joshua Deeds
August 13, 2024 (8:26 PM)

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When Nick Foligno arrived in Toronto, he had hoped to be what he is in Chicago now. A meaningful veteran leader, on and off the ice and lead the Maple Leafs to a long playoff run.

However, that wouldn't occur as a result of a back injury and his time would be shortened. And wouldn't make quite the impact he wanted.

On the Dropping The Gloves Podcast, he described his time in Toronto as "frustrating" and "disappointing.

"I was excited about playing in Toronto, I felt like I could really help on the ice and off the ice," Foligno said. "Just to get them over the hump and have some snarls, some attitudes, some personality in the room. And that's kind of why I picked going there." He waived his no-move clause with the Columbus Blue Jackets in order to approve the trade.

Following in his father's Mike footsteps was what appealed to Foligno, when he arrived in Toronto, a homecoming of sorts.

"I will be honest with you. Playing for the team that my dad played for, it was one of his more successful stints, in '93 they went to the Semi-Finals..."

But playing in the bubble with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the pandemic protections in place, offered some challenges he didn't count on having. He didn't enjoy not being able to play in front of fans, amongst other things.

"I don't know if it was the plane or what, but 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."

As the playoffs began, he became more and more frustrated:

"I was just so frustrated because I knew I was really hurt and I knew how much they had invested in me and I was trying to play through it, but I was a shell of myself. I just couldn't help in the way I wanted to, I couldn't be in the room. I was always in the training room in between periods, (but) I couldn't help galvanize the team. I couldn't do what I love to do and can do on and off the ice. And that was just, it was one of the hardest things.

«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.»

Foligno is now, the defacto Captain for the Blackhawks and signed a two-year $4.5 Million dollar AAV contract.

He will continue to mentor and lead Connor Bedard, the Blackhawk's newest superstar.

Source: NHL trade rumors
Nick Foligno Opens Up On «Disappointment» From Time with Maple Leafs