It’s been over 15 months since legendary Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews played in what was likely his last game in the NHL, and Chicago still has yet to name a leader to take his place. Before the 2023-24 season, GM Kyle Davidson told fans that the position would be left empty for a year to “let it breathe” and pay respect to Toews.
We’re now just over two months away from Blackhawks preseason action, and the team has not revealed any further information on the matter. There’s a chance Chicago uses a group of alternate captains like last year, with names like Jason Dickinson, Nick Foligno, and Seth Jones sporting the “A”. However, the team can’t be without an on-ice leader forever. If the Blackhawks name a captain for the upcoming season, they’ll likely pick from one of two choices.
With each passing day this offseason, the easy choice for Chicago becomes even easier. Around this time last summer, Foligno was brought on to serve as a veteran presence for a young Blackhawks team, but no one could have predicted the level of leadership the 36-year-old has exhibited since then. Commonly referred to as the team’s “de facto captain”, Foligno has even been referred to as a type of father figure for the youngest players on the team, given that he’s closer in age to their own parents. Most recently, Foligno was referenced in the media availability of pretty much every newly drafted rookie, who each said that the veteran forward was the first to contact them and welcome them to the team.
After everything Foligno has done for the camaraderie of the team on the ice and in the locker room, it seems the Blackhawks owe it to him to slap the “C” on his chest this season. He wouldn’t exactly disgrace the role, as Foligno is loved by fans and players alike in Chicago. On the other hand, the 36-year-old won’t be around forever. He has two years left on his contract with a $4.5 million cap hit, and with the Blackhawks primarily focused on future success, there’s no guarantee he’ll be brought back at that point, despite his leadership and on-ice production. That uncertainty is the biggest argument against Foligno for the captaincy – would Chicago give him the legendary role for just two seasons?
If the Blackhawks have a captain this year not named Nick Foligno, it’ll be because they gave that honor to the 18-year-old face of the franchise. There’s no question Connor Bedard will serve as the team’s long-term leader, and he’s already beginning to do so. A handful of recent draftees mentioned Bedard in the same breath as Foligno, telling the media that he had also been among the first to welcome them to the pipeline. There’s no question Bedard says and does all the right things, setting a great example as a leader even though he hasn’t yet reached his 19th birthday.
There’s no doubt Bedard could take over the captaincy this season and excel in the role, but Foligno seems like the perfect candidate to serve as a “bridge” for the next few seasons until Bedard is ready to take over. The veteran signed a two-year extension that seems to indicate that could be the case. By waiting a few years to give Bedard the “C”, it would take plenty of pressure off of the young star. Plus, when people around the Blackhawks think of leaders on the team, the first name that comes to mind is Foligno’s. What better choice to lead the team for the next two seasons? Either of the two options would be excellent for the Blackhawks, but the team already seems to have unofficially made its choice.
