Don’t Be Shocked if Nick Foligno Re-Signs with the Maple Leafs – Cheap

Given all the rumors swirling, surprisingly not much has been heard from or about Nick Foligno after the Toronto Maple Leafs’ postseason ended. The question on my mind is: “Foligno said he was happy to come to Toronto: Would he be happy to stay?”

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It Never Worked Out as Foligno Expected

The fact is that Foligno’s time with the Maple Leafs didn’t work out the way anyone expected. After Foligno came as a rental, he was almost immediately injured and missed most of both the regular season and the postseason. He had four assists in his first four games with his new Maple Leafs’ team but then went completely silent – yielding to the injury, playing out of position, and unable to help his new team over the top.

In truth, no one knows what he might have done had he stayed healthy. Could he have made the single-goal difference that might have helped the Maple Leafs eliminate the Montreal Canadiens? And, had that happened, might the Maple Leafs still be playing in the Stanley Cup Finals? No one really knows.

Does the Team Want Foligno? Does Foligno Want the Team? 

Foligno is later in his career, and he was happy to come to the Maple Leafs. Furthermore, from what he said, he believed he could help put the team reach its goal. Given that his father also played for the Maple Leafs, there seemed to be a good karma. But it never worked out. 

As the Maple Leafs look toward and reveal their future, which will happen after the Seattle Kraken Expansion Draft on July 21, does the organization’s leadership want Foligno on its roster? If so, might Foligno choose to remain with the team? 

I believe that the Maple Leafs’ general manager Kyle Dubas will make a pitch to the former Columbus Blue Jackets’ captain. Not a rich one, but then Foligno really can’t expect to re-sign for anything close to the $5 million contract that just expired. But that was a younger-player’s contract, and Foligno’s no longer a younger player. Still …

What Might Foligno Bring to the Team?

At 33 years of age, Foligno’s high-scoring days are behind him. However, he’s still a savvy veteran player who can contribute some secondary scoring. He did score 31 goals and 73 points during the 2014-15 season and he’s scored 200 NHL goals. 

Is he similar to Jason Spezza in his ability to contribute to the team? Perhaps the bigger question is if he’s similar to Spezza in his desire to have his name engraved on a Stanley Cup Trophy? In other words, will he sign cheaply – for something close to the NHL league’s minimum contract of $750,000? 

Foligno can play add a physical game. He’ll likely bring that necessary “grit” the team needs to make it tougher to play against – especially during postseason play. Since the NHL first started to track hits in the 2007-2008 season, Foligno’s ranked 11th among all active NHL players and is 21st in hits all-time. 

He adds intensity. He isn’t afraid to drop the gloves, which he did with Corey Perry after John Tavares was hurt during Game 1 of the first playoff round. He brings a fearless attitude to the ice.

Foligno’s Has a Work Ethic 

Unless Foligno completely changes, and there’s little chance of that happening, he’ll bring a work ethic to the team. He doesn’t give up, which makes him hard to play against. He’s exceptionally hard-working. He goes to the tough places on the ice. And, he can help lead and carry a team. 

That willingness to engage, play defense, and contribute on any line could help the team. He’s a proven leader, who’s team-oriented to the point of selflessness. He’s been the Blue Jackets’ captain since the 2014-15 NHL season. 

Foligno’s a Character Guy

Foligno’s a player who’ll fit the Maple Leafs’ ethos. After the 2016-17 season ended, he was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy –  an NHL Community Service Award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership and who’s contributed to his community. He won the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award as the NHL player who exemplifies leadership qualities to his team during the regular season.

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Foligno Can Add to the Team, But Wil He?

Most smart money is betting Foligno will return to Columbus to live with his family in the home they established there. However, he does spend every summer in Northern Ontario. All that put together suggests to me that Maple Leafs’ fans shouldn’t be too surprised to hear that Foligno has accepted a single-season contract along the lines that Wayne Simmonds signed – something around $900,000. 

Should that happen, Foligno will add leadership, character, a selfless attitude, team play, experience, and the defensive ability to neutralize the opposition. These are characteristics any Stanley Cup winner needs.