Emily Kaplan and Greg WyshynskiMultiple AuthorsMar 6, 2026, 11:19 AM ET
Nick Foligno lights the lamp (0:42)Nick Foligno lights the lamp (0:42)
The Minnesota Wild have traded for Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno, giving him an opportunity to play with his brother, Marcus.
The deal is for future considerations, sources said, and is viewed as Chicago doing its captain a solid so he has a chance to chase a Stanley Cup. There is no retention on the deal, as the Blackhawks have already used their three retention spots.
Nick Foligno, 38, is on the final year of a two-year pact he signed with the Blackhawks that pays him $4.5 million annually — which brings the Wild close to the salary cap and possibly done doing business, after acquiring forward Bobby Brink earlier Friday and Michael McCarron earlier in the week.
According to PuckPedia, Minnesota has $5.25 in available cap space after taking on Foligno’s full salary.
“I believe in this group so much. It’s been an absolute honor to be the captain here. I’m still fully committed to that until I’m told otherwise. But, there’s a competitor inside of you, too, that wants to play meaningful games.”
“Obviously, one, I’m happy for him,” he told reporters. “As I said yesterday, I wish we were 10 points in and none of this happens, but we’re not. And for an opportunity to go and play with your brother, be part of something with your brother. I’ve got a brother and it’d be an unbelievable thing. And so I know that means a ton to him and his family. I know how important that is.”
“We’ve just had great papa bears that have helped these young guys along, and Nick certainly led us in that,” he said.
The Wild have one of the better records in the league and they’re going for it, getting Brink from the Flyers for 22-year-old defenseman David Jiricek.
Brink, 24, is a Minnesota native who was drafted in the second round (34th overall) in 2019 by the Flyers. The fourth-year NHL player has 13 goals and 13 assists in 55 games, skating to a minus-5. Brink is a restricted free agent this summer. He’s a playmaker with a strong two-way game, bolstering the Wild’s forward depth.
The Flyers made him available due to their own considerable depth on the wing with players like Tyson Foerster, Travis Konecny, Matvei Michkov and Owen Tippett, as well as the eventual arrival of top prospect Porter Martone.
The Wild have been busy this deadline, having also acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from Florida and McCarron from Nashville.
Foligno hinted at a possible move in media availability Thursday with the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill confirmed the trade.
The coach said he appreciated Foligno and the other veterans helping with such a young roster.
Nick Foligno lights the lamp (0:42)Nick Foligno lights the lamp (0:42)