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Nick Foligno Acquired by the Minnesota Wild

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Conrad Jack | Last updated Mar 6, 2026 1:56 PM ET

The Chicago Blackhawks have traded their captain, Nick Foligno, to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations.

Chicago doesn’t have any salary retention spots left, so Foligno will come with his full $4.5 million cap hit.

The NHL veteran gets to play with his brother Marcus, who’s played with the Minnesota Wild since the 2017-18 season.

Nick Foligno, 38, has 11 points (3G, 8A) in 37 games played this season, and he’s been a solid 35-point guy for Chicago in his first two seasons with the Blackhawks. In 1,270 career NHL games, Foligno has 608 points (250G, 358A) and 1,007 PIMs.

The gesture by the Blackhawks to send Foligno to Minnesota to play with his brother for future considerations is widely regarded as doing right by their captain.

The Ottawa Senators drafted the longtime NHLer 28th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He’s since then played for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a team that he was captain of for six seasons. Foligno has also played for the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs before making his way to Chicago.

Minnesota has been busy today; the Foligno trade happened shortly after acquiring Bobby Brink from Philadelphia.

The Foligno acquisition is a big piece that brings in another strong veteran player, but it is also another piece to what Minnesota has for sandpaper. Minnesota is shaping up for a deep playoff run, and sandpaper guys are needed when the playoffs get rough.

Minneota is currently sitting in third place in the NHL’s Central Division standings. They sit three points behind the second-place Dallas Stars without a game in hand.

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This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

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