When the Toronto Maple Leafs traded for Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno during the 2020-21 season, he was slated to be a top-six winger who could provide some secondary scoring up front and be a catalyst of character for the dressing room.
Needless to say, things didn’t work out like either side hoped.
Foligno had to deal with Ontario’s COVID-19 restrictions as he wasn’t able to jump into the Maple Leafs’ lineup immediately and once he did suit up in the blue and white, just like his dad Mike did many moons ago, Foligno wasn’t able to perform to the best of his abilities.
In fact, he could hardly dress himself for a game. Foligno spoke to former NHLer John Scott recently on the Dropping the Gloves podcast and opened up about how frustrating his time in Toronto was, especially considering how excited he was about the opportunity to live out a childhood dream.
“You know what I was excited about in Toronto, was that I felt that I could really help, on the ice and off the ice. The culture, just to get them over the hump and have some snarl, some attitude, some personality in the room. That’s kind of why I picked going there, I just felt I could really put a stamp on that team”, Foligno said.
“That’s probably the thing that really bothered me the most. I think I was just so frustrated because I knew I was really hurt. I knew how much they had invested in me and I was trying to play through it, but I was a shell of myself,” Foligno continued.
“I couldn’t be in the room, I always in the training room in between periods. I couldn’t help galvanize the team, I couldn’t do what I love to do and can do, on and off the ice. Trust me, I’m sure the Toronto fans are disappointed with how it shook out, but I guarantee you I’m more disappointed and that’s something you have to live with and again, that’s sports man.”
Former Leafs GM Kyle Dubas acquired Foligno as part of a three-team deal which saw Dubas give up a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 fourth-round pick, and the deal included Toronto shipping out a 2022 fourth-round pick to the San Jose Sharks.
Foligno ended up dressing in only seven regular season games, recording four points and collected just one assist in four Stanley Cup Playoff games. At the time, it was obvious Foligno was playing hurt and doing whatever he could to stay on the ice, but hearing his frustration about how badly he wanted it to work out is tough.
Columbus went on to select Corson Ceulemans with the Maple Leafs first round pick, 25th overall in 2021. The 21-year-old defenceman has yet to appear in an NHL game and spent last season recording 12 points in 47 games for the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League.
For the complete Foligno interview with Dropping the Gloves, watch below:
