On trade deadline day, the Chicago Blackhawks traded captain Nick Foligno to the Minnesota Wild. The Blackhawks received future considerations. No salary was retained.

Analysis

Doing right by your players. A concept some fans may not think about, but it is very important to consider. Sometimes lost in the grand scheme, but these are human beings doing a job. Fans may see assets or tools meant to bring a championship to their favorite team. The reality for these players is complicated, and difficult to maintain.

Kyle Davidson, in another player-friendly move, did right by his captain. In trading Foligno to the Wild, he gives the 38-year-old forward two opportunities. First, Foligno gets the chance to chase a Stanley Cup in his twilight. Second, Foligno gets the chance to play with his brother, Marcus Foligno.

“It feels like my mom is looking down on us and smiling today,” Foligno said on TSN following the trade.

It is not as though Foligno sprinted out of Chicago with a smile on his face. When speaking about leaving the Blackhawks, Foligno said, “I feel like I was saying goodbye to my kids.”

The trade has already affected those in the locker room. When asked about the trade, Connor Bedard said, “[Foligno] was someone that meant a lot to the group and I grew super close with. It’s sad when you lose guys and it motivates you to not be in this spot.”

Blackhawks deadline dealings

The Blackhawks made four trades this week, moving out veterans for draft capital and players under contract next season. Here is how things shaped out:

In:

• Andrew Mangiapane
• Derrick Pouliot
• 2027 first-round pick (Edmonton) (Top-12 protected)
• 2028 second-round pick (Edmonton)

Out:

• Nick Foligno
• Connor Murphy
• Jason Dickinson
• Colton Dach
• Aidan Thompson

The Blackhawks chose to retain a few expiring contracts. Notably, the Blackhawks did not trade forward Ilya Mikheyev. After reports emerged that an extension was not reached with Mikheyev, rumors swirled that Chicago would be looking to move him. Davidson addressed not trading Mikheyev in a press conference on Friday.

“I want to keep [Mikheyev] around,” Davidson said. “I really like what he brings to the team. If someone was going to approach us, they had to make it worth our while, and that certainly didn’t happen. And frankly, I’m glad I didn’t have to make a tough decision there.”

Final thoughts

With the Foligno trade, along with the Blackhawks’ other trades, Chicago achieved multiple important goals. First, they did right by their veteran players. Foligno, Murphy and Dickinson were all veteran leaders on this roster. Giving them a chance to compete for a Cup while going through the deadline was key for Davidson.

Second, the Blackhawks got incredible value for expiring contracts. A first- and second-round pick for Murphy, Dickinson and Dach was jaw-dropping. Taking advantage of the Edmonton Oilers’ desperation was to Chicago’s gain.

Last, and possibly most important, the Blackhawks opened the NHL roster wide open for their prospects. Leaving no room for debate as to who they hope to fill those spots, clearing out the roster emphasizes that goal.

Davidson strikes again. Now, it is time for the talented youth to bring this team to light.

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Make sure to bookmark this page and come back as the moves happen for up-to-the-minute analysis and breakdowns from our friends at 

Date	The-Rink Division	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
3/2/2026		Connor Murphy (50% salary retained)		2028 2nd round pick
3/4/2026		Jason Dickinson (50% salary retained) and Colton Dach		Andrew Mangiapane and 2027 1st round pick (top 12 protected)
3/6/2026		Nick Foligno		Future Consideration
3/6/2026		Aidan Thompson		Derrick Pouliot

Trade Analysis/Breakdown:

• • 
    • • • The Edmonton Oilers acquire Connor Murphy (50% retained) from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2028 2nd round pick.

    

    • • • The Edmonton Oilers acquire Jason Dickinson (50% retained) and Colton Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks for Andrew Mangiapane and a conditional 2027 1st round pick.

      

      • • The Chicago Blackhawks trade Nick Foligno to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations.

      

      • The Chicago Blackhawks acquire Derrick Pouliot from the New York Rangers for Aidan Thompson.

Also, be sure to follow the entire The-Rink staff on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, as well:

The Rink Official

Chicago Divison
The Rinkcast
Jeff Osborn
Andy Campbell
Eric Andrews
Sean Fitzgerald
Jimmy O’Malley
Andrew Bard
Ray Napientek
Matt Csakai

 

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“Nick’s commanding presence in the locker room has been instrumental in helping the team find its identity,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson in a press release. “He has served as a mentor to many of our young players both on and off the ice while also heading up the leadership group comprised of our veteran players, and we are beyond confident that he will flourish in the role of captain as we usher in a new era of Blackhawks hockey.”

Foligno was brought into the organization during the summer of 2023 to be a leadership presence for the younger players. Last season, he was named as an alternate captain to start the year. He recorded 37 points with 17 goals and 20 assists. This will be Foligno’s second stint as an NHL team’s captain, serving in the role for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2015–2021, leading them to four straight playoff berths from 2017–2020. He was award the Mark Messier Leadership Award with the Blue Jackets in 2016–17 for his on-ice and off-ice contributions.

The former first-round pick has played with Ottawa, Columbus, Toronto, Boston and Chicago during his 17-year career. He has amassed 562 points in 1,155 career regular season games.

“The fact that Danny, Kyle, Luke [Richardson] and my teammates have all put their faith in me to lead this amazing group is extremely humbling, and I thank them all for the opportunity,” Foligno said in the press release. “I am beyond honored to serve as captain for this storied franchise and its incredible fans, especially during such a pivotal time toward the team’s future.”

The Blackhawks’ training camp opens today with player physicals, with practices beginning tomorrow at Fifth Third Arena at 10 a.m. CDT.

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Nick is here to stay! pic.twitter.com/CHDTqpXq1R

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 12, 2024

Foligno has been a breath of fresh air for the Blackhawks this season. Foligno was acquired over the offseason as part of the Taylor Hall trade with the Boston Bruins to add leadership on and off the ice for a young Blackhawks team. Foligno has delivered those intangibles in spades, exceeding expectations most people had.

But, not only has Foligno been a great addition off the ice, but he has also performed well on it. The 36-year-old posted 17 points (eight goals, nine assists) in 39 games before suffering a broken finger against the New Jersey Devils last week. Those totals nearly match Foligno’s output from last season with the Bruins, when he played 60 games, and already surpass his totals from the 2021–22 season.

Foligno has been vocal about enjoying the opportunity to take on an expanded role both on and off the ice this season, saying it has rejuvenated his play on the ice and motivation off it. Foligno’s 17:31 average time on ice this season is his highest since the 2020–21 season, when he averaged 18:09 of ice time with the Columbus Blue Jackets before being dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline.

“The impact Nick has already had on our team in such a short time is a testament to his work ethic and dedication to helping the players around him succeed,” said Blackhawks General Manager Kyle Davidson in a press release. “Hard-working on the ice, the energy he brings every night and his versatility to play in any situation have been tremendous assets. His leadership skills both on and off the ice have been instrumental in what we are building, and we are excited for him continue to push our team forward.”

The Blackhawks return to the ice on Saturday, hosting the Dallas Stars for a 7 p.m. CST puck drop.

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Join your fellow Rinkrats below to discuss what the Blackhawks accomplished (or did not accomplish) this year as the market opened.

Player	Pos	Prev Team	New Team	Age	Ht / Wt	Term	Notes
Nick Foligno	LW			35	6' 0" / 208 lbs	1 year / $4 million	Acquired UFA rights in trade.
Corey Perry	RW			38	6' 3" / 205 lbs	1 year / $4 million	Acquired UFA rights in trade.
Ryan Donato	C/W			27	6’ 0” / 190	2 year / $2 million

These are Blackhawks trades relevant to this offseason.

Date	Outgoing Player/Pick	Opposite Team	Player/Pick Received
6/26/2023	RFA Rights to Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula		Taylor Hall, and UFA rights to Nick Foligno. Foligno was signed to a 1 yr $4M contract for 23/24
6/29/2023	Future Consideration		Josh Bailey and a 2026 2nd round draft pick. Bailey was put on waivers for buyout purposes.
6/30.2023	2023 2nd round pick (51 overall)		2023 6th round pick (#167 overall) and a 2024 2nd.
6/30/2023	2024 7th-round pick		Corey Perry

Trade Analysis

• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno from the Boston Bruins for Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula
• The Philadelphia Flyers acquired a 2023 2nd round pick (#51) from the Chicago Blackhawks for a 2024 2nd round pick and a 2023 6th round pick (#167)
• The Chicago Blackhawks acquired Corey Perry from the Tampa Bay Lightning for a 2024 7th round pick

The post Chicago Blackhawks 2023 Real-Time Free Agency Tracker appeared first on The Rink.

The trade accomplishes multiple things for both sides. For Chicago, the Blackhawks land a quality top-six winger in Hall, who should be able to slot in nicely with Connor Bedard assuming he can stay healthy. Hall, a former first overall pick himself and former Hart Trophy winner, should also provide valuable leadership for Bedard, showing the phenom the ropes of being a first overall pick and how to handle the hype and expectations. Hall’s $6 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons will also help the team reach the salary cap floor. In Foligno, the Hawks acquire another respected veteran winger. Although past his prime, Foligno can still contribute in a bottom-six role while providing physicality and leadership. Foligno is currently an unrestricted free agent, but all signs point toward the Blackhawks intending to sign Foligno ahead of free agency opening on July 1.

For Boston, the Bruins “acquire” much-needed cap space, as something clearly needed to give in order for Boston to comfortably assemble a roster for next season. The Bruins also acquire a pair of underachieving blueliners ready for a fresh start who can provide organizational depth moving forward.

On the surface, although being a win-win deal for both sides, the Hawks would seem to be the bigger winners, as neither Mitchell nor Regula likely factored into the team’s long-term plans, as both players were unable to crack the Blackhawks’ lineup last season, while also adding a quality forward option in Hall and veteran depth in Foligno.

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Dave Bolland standing with the Blackhawks starters while being honored for his One More Shift. (Photo by Chase Agnello-Dean/NHLI via Getty Images)

Prior to Friday’s game, the Blackhawks honored two-time Stanley Cup Champion and former Chicago Blackhawks forward Dave Bolland for his One More Shift. Bolland received a warm welcome from the home town faithful at the United Center.

A loud and well-deserved ovation for the return of Coyotes legend Dave Bolland. pic.twitter.com/0LogK0XTKc

— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 19, 2019

The famous saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” was in order for head coach Jeremy Colliton ahead of the game. The only lineup change made was at goalie, as Robin Lehner was starting in goal:

DeBrincat – Toews – Caggiula

Shaw – Strome – Kane

Saad – Kampf – Kubalik

Smith – Carpenter – Nylander

Keith – Murphy

Maatta – Seabrook

de Haan – Gustafsson

Lehner

First period

After everyone settled into their seats, the third line did what they have done best throughout this young season: be a force to be reckoned with. Roughly fourty seconds into the period, Brandon Saad and Dominik Kubalik started a rush up ice with Saad dishing over to Kubalik. After the Czech winger crossed the opposing blue line, he dipped his shoulder and fed a pass to Saad in front. Unfortunately, the bid was denied.

Early in the opening frame, the Blue Jackets did a good job of controlling the pace of play. They generated numerous quality scoring chances early, including on the power play, but Robin Lehner stood tall. 

After very little action to touch on, the Blackhawks struck first. Calvin de Haan fed a pass up the left wing boards to Alex DeBrincat in the Blackhawks’ zone. DeBrincat subsequently fired a pass off the glass and down the ice. The feed perfectly found Drake Caggiula at the opposing blue line, waiting for the dish. Caggiula skated in on the two-on-two and wired a perfect shot to the top right corner of the net for his first goal of the season.

Drake Caggiula's first goal of the year is NICE

Stream the game here: https://t.co/heSdrKpFnT pic.twitter.com/4UMWQE1ceq

— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) October 19, 2019

After the impressive tally by Caggiula, the Blackhawks took their lead into the first intermission, despite being outshot by the Blue Jackets 15–10 and badly out possessed. 

Second period

The middle frame against Columbus felt awfully familiar. The Blackhawks seemed to come out flat, unlike they did against Edmonton. The game Monday finally seemed like the Blackhawks improved in the middle frame. They didn’t play bad, but they were still outshot and out possessed.

The best chance of the early minutes came from Chicago. Calvin de Haan found the puck behind the net and dished it out in front to Patrick Kane. Kane was able to get a good shot off, but Columbus goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made an excellent save on the play.

About five and a half minutes into the period, the Blue Jackets’ top center took over. Pierre-Luc Dubois was fighting for the puck against the Blackhawks’ top pairing and was able to wiggle his way around Connor Murphy for the loose puck. Upon gaining possession, Dubois out-waited Robin Lehner, forcing him out of position, and fired a bad angle shot into the back of the wide open net. The game-tying goal felt inevitable after Columbus had dominated possession.

The Blackhawks’ best chance of the period came about a minute after the Dubois goal. Merzlikins attempted to move the puck up ice but the pass was picked off by Andrew Shaw. Shaw found Kane down low to Merzlikins’ right side as he waited for one of his linemates to get open. Dylan Strome ended up being open back door, but could not connect on the one-timer that would have given Chicago the lead.

The Blackhawks survived the middle frame without yielding any more damage. Columbus outshot Chicago once again in the period and was the better possession team again. 

Third period

The opening minutes of the third period did not look great for the Blackhawks. They looked sluggish and behind in comparison to their opponent. Around three minutes into the period, a Blackhawks turnover led to a Columbus rush up the ice. Defenseman Markus Nutivaara fired a shot on net and followed his own rebound. The rebound shot wasn’t as strong as the first, but he got just enough on the puck to float it into the back of the net and give the visitors the 2–1 lead.

https://twitter.com/NHL_fi/status/1185518584627367937

Following the goal, the Blackhawks found more of a pep in their step. They seemed to turn it on after going down a goal in the third period. With about 12 minutes remaining, the Blackhawks had an important power play but nearly cost themselves. Nick Foligno had a shorthanded breakaway and the puck squeaked through Lehner. However, the whistle had already been blown before the puck trickled out from under Lehner and into the back of the net. Chicago lived to see another day.

The reason that power play was so important is because about forty seconds later, Gustafsson set up at the point on that power play and found Patrick Kane at his usual right wing spot on the man advantage. Kane gifted a perfect pass across the ice to DeBrincat, who was set up at the left wing face-off dot. DeBrincat wasted no time, one-timing the puck into the back of the net to tie the game at two-a-piece. 

pic.twitter.com/oApg048srb

— Blackhawks Talk (@NBCSBlackhawks) October 19, 2019

For the remainder of the third, the Blackhawks penalty kill stood tall and Lehner looked good. The Blackhawks were able to generate a power play themselves, thanks to Ryan Carpenter, but they could not capitalize on the opportunity. The game required overtime to determine a winner at 1901 W. Madison St. 

Overtime

Columbus won the opening face-off of the extra frame and proceeded up ice. Despite having possession for the first forty seconds, the visitors could not do anything with the opportunity. 

Instead, the dynamic Kane-Toews duo proceeded up the ice with Toews feeding Kane as the trigger man. Kane put a shot on net, that ultimately hit Toews’ shin pad, and it found its way into the back of the net to secure the Blackhawks 3–2 victory. 

Jonathan Toews overtime winner for his first goal of the season. He’ll take it. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Cwjr2pASuC

— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) October 19, 2019

Quick Hits

• Day late, but not a dollar short: The Blackhawks lacked meaningful energy until the Blue Jackets took the 2–1 lead early in the third period. After that, the Blackhawks were by far the better team. However, one player’s energy that stuck out was Alex Nylander. He was constantly back checking and was almost always one of the first player up ice when he was out there. Other players had great energy too, but you could see Nylander embracing the fourth line role and making the most of it. 
• Is he a backup?: Robin Lehner, the “backup” goalie, looked sensational for the Blackhawks on Friday night. Despite giving up two goals, he made many big saves throughout the game, especially early in the first when the Blue Jackets were badly outplaying the Blackhawks. If the Crawford/Lehner duo look like they did on Monday and Friday, respectively, then the Blackhawks have something they can be proud of in net.
• Top shelf/top line: The Blackhawks “first line” was responsible for all three goals Friday night, as Alex DeBrincat scored on the power play and both Drake Caggiula and Jonathan Toews registered their first goals of the season. If the top line can get going and the second line follows suit, then the offense will continue to look like it did last season and, potentially, even better.

The Blackhawks will remain home as they wait for the Washington Capitals. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CDT on Sunday, October 20.

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