Nick Foligno named Blue Jackets captain

The Columbus Blue Jackets announced Wednesday former Sudbury Wolves star player Nick Foligno will become the team's captain.

Foligno, who played for the Wolves from 2004 to 2007, and has a home in Sudbury, where he stays during the off-season, becomes the Blue Jackets' sixth captain, following defenceman Lyle Odelein (2000-02), forward Ray Whitney (2002-03), defenceman Luke Richardson (2003-05), defenceman Adam Foote (2005-08) and forward Rick Nash (2008-12).

“Over the past three seasons, Nick Foligno has distinguished himself on the ice, in the dressing room and in our community. He has earned the respect of his teammates, coaches and our fans through his work ethic on and off the ice, as well as his passion for the game and compassion for others,” said Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, in a press release. “We are proud to introduce him as the next captain of our hockey club.”

Foligno, 27, is coming off the best season of his eight-year NHL career as he set career highs in virtually every offensive category with 31 goals and 42 assists for 73 points with 50 penalty minutes and a +16 plus/minus rating in 79 games. He led the club in goals, points, plus/minus rating, power play goals (11), shooting percentage (17.0 pct.) and multi-point games (17). He ranked 10th-tied in the NHL in points and 12th-tied in goals, and served as a team captain at the 2015 NHL All-Star Game.

Foligno also was selected as the winner of the club’s Community MVP Award, which recognizes the player who best exemplifies community stewardship, this past season. In addition, the Columbus chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominated Foligno for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is given annually to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

The Buffalo, New York native has registered 116-163-279 with 473 penalty minutes in 545 career games with the Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators, including 55-76-131 and 174 penalty minutes in 194 games with Columbus.

Ottawa’s first pick, 28th overall, in the 2006 NHL Draft, Foligno spent five seasons with the Senators before joining the Blue Jackets in July 2012. He represented the United States at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF World Championships and spent just over a year with the United States National Development Program.