On Monday afternoon around 2 p.m. CDT, a trade was finalized to bring Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno to Chicago.
On Tuesday morning, around 20 hours later, it was announced that Foligno, who was facing unrestricted free agency on Saturday, would be signed to a one-year, $4 million deal.
The Blackhawks wasted no time in locking down the 35-year-old winger, and actually gave him a raise from the $3.8 million he earned last year as part of the Bruins. While $4 million may seem like an overpay for some, the move makes perfect sense for Chicago.
Productivity
Foligno was plenty productive last season in Boston, scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 60 games. He likely won’t be on the first line with Connor Bedard, as the team will want to open up a few of those spots to young prospects like Lukas Reichel. However, when used properly, it’s clear that Foligno can get the job done offensively.
Veteran Presence
Even if he’s not the greatest point scorer next season, a veteran presence is always a great thing to have on this Blackhawks team. The group is filled with young prospects as Chicago hopes to build the roster from the ground up. Plus, having a player like Foligno in the locker room could work wonders for 17-year-old Bedard, as the situation he’ll be thrown into is one of enormous pressure. Foligno’s veteran voice could ease some of that tension, allowing Bedard to free up his game and play more comfortably.
The Ole Rock’em Sock’em
An additional aspect of Foligno’s game that shouldn’t go unnoticed for the Blackhawks is his fighting ability. He’s always appeared willing to drop his gloves whenever an opponent lays a hit on any of his teammates. Chicago has plenty of prized possessions coming to the roster, which are of course headlined by Bedard. The thought of losing a prospect of his caliber to injury feels disastrous for a team that plans to build around him. With Foligno on the ice, however, opposing players will think twice before coming after Chicago’s “golden boy”.
Future Trade Value?
With Foligno sometimes playing alongside players like Bedard or Reichel, there’s no reason why he can’t have a brief “career revival” of sorts. If he’s able to produce at a high level, the Blackhawks may be able to flip him to a contender and get a decent return in the form of young prospects who can further elevate this rebuild.
NOT an Overpay
Foligno’s $4 million cap hit may seem high at first glance, and isn’t a price tag a Stanley Cup contender would pay. However, if any team can afford to overspend, it’s the Blackhawks, as they still sit almost $6 million under the cap floor. As a rebuilding team, Chicago has to overpay a bit, as players are less willing to take pay cuts when compared to a contender. Plus, the move means the Blackhawks are still sticking to GM Kyle Davidson’s strategy, which he said was to “maintain flexibility in the long run” during this rebuild, only signing players to one or two-year deals.
Even at age 35, Foligno is still a great player to have on the roster, due to his productivity, veteran presence, and willingness to defend his young teammates. Even if he doesn’t end up being worth the $4 million he’s being paid this year, the deal can’t possibly hurt the Blackhawks in the long run.
