Nick Foligno has been named the new captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, marking the 35th captain in the franchise’s history. The announcement came on the eve of the team’s first official practice for training camp. This designation follows a season where the team opted to go without a captain after parting ways with Jonathan Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup winner who had held the captaincy since 2008.

Turning 37 on October 31, Foligno quickly endeared himself to fans after being traded from Boston in June 2023. He had served as one of Chicago’s alternate captains in his first year with the team, and his leadership qualities made him a natural choice for the captaincy role.

General Manager Kyle Davidson expressed confidence in Foligno’s ability to lead the team during this transitional period, with young star Connor Bedard entering his second NHL season and the team looking to improve upon last season’s last-place finish in the Central Division.

Despite the team’s struggles, Chicago has been active in free agency and is optimistic about its rebuilding efforts. Foligno, who tallied 17 goals and 20 assists in 74 games last season, signed a two-year contract extension in January, committing to the team until the 2025-26 season.

A veteran of 17 NHL seasons, Foligno has amassed 232 goals and 330 assists in 1,155 games, playing for teams such as Ottawa, Columbus, Boston, and Toronto. He comes from a hockey family, with his father Mike having played in the NHL for 15 years and his brother Marcus currently playing for Minnesota.