Nick Foligno dishing out more 'tough love' as Blackhawks captain this season
LOS ANGELES — Nick Foligno didn't expect to approach his leadership duties any differently this season despite being officially the Blackhawks' captain.He has found himself, however, giving out more constructive criticism — not because of his title but because his expectations for this season's roster are higher."I think there has also been a lot of love," Foligno said. "That's important. But there's just been an emphasis on where we need to be as a group mentally. That's the tough love [part], making sure we're not OK with moral victories. I don't want to be creeping into our [minds]. That's a losing atmosphere, and that's something we need to change drastically here."Last year, I understood we were a team that had a lot of injuries and a lot of things that were out of our control, so I was trying to just be with the guys. Now, there's a standard we've got to get to. That's my job as one of the leaders to help keep that standard. ... There was a little bit more barking at the beginning of the year to make sure we're staying sharp with that."Late in the first period Saturday against the Kings, the captain was punching rather than barking. His fight with Kings forward Tanner Jeannot — the Hawks' third fight this season — was a doozy intended to wake up the team.That bout didn't end up having the desired effect, but his goal early in the third period did, igniting the Hawks' rally for a 4-3 shootout win. Nick Foligno and Tanner Jeannot drop the gloves pic.twitter.com/HgTW8FHoTC— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) November 2, 2024 Home-cooked mealsPerhaps Foligno's cleverest leadership-related idea last season involved inviting different Hawks over to his house for home-cooked dinners with his wife and three kids. He believed those meet-ups helped him get to know everybody on deeper levels and give some of the quiet, young players a comfortable space in which they could open up.Although there aren't nearly as many youngsters on this year's roster, Foligno has continued the tradition with some of the summer free-agent signings — some of whom have brought their own families."Our schedule hasn't allowed us to do much these past couple road trips, but as we get into the holiday season especially, we'll have more opportunities and be home more to do that," he said. "I'm sure we'll be bugging my wife to do more cooking coming up here."Saturday observationsTeuvo Teravainen, who has been quiet lately, was demoted to the third line while Donato was promoted to the first line. The Finnish forward made poor play in the offensive zone in the third period and logged only 12:18 of ice time, third-lowest on the team. Coach Luke Richardson said he "went with guys who had a little more skating legs" in overtime; Teravainen didn't get a shift.Lukas Reichel now has five points in eight games after adding in his beautiful assist to Craig Smith. He deserves a promotion above the fourth line, but his chemistry there with Smith and Pat Maroon makes it a tough decision.Connor Murphy committed his eighth minor penalty of the season Saturday and has now recorded penalty minutes in nine of 12 total games. His lack of discipline stands out — no other Hawk has taken more than three minors.T.J. Brodie was healthy-scratched for the first time in favor of Isaak Phillips, who was fine in his season debut. Richardson didn't describe it as an accountability-based decision, but it could be interpreted as such considering Brodie's struggles.
LOS ANGELES — Nick Foligno didn't expect to approach his leadership duties any differently this season despite being officially the Blackhawks' captain.
He has found himself, however, giving out more constructive criticism — not because of his title but because his expectations for this season's roster are higher.
"I think there has also been a lot of love," Foligno said. "That's important. But there's just been an emphasis on where we need to be as a group mentally. That's the tough love [part], making sure we're not OK with moral victories. I don't want to be creeping into our [minds]. That's a losing atmosphere, and that's something we need to change drastically here.
"Last year, I understood we were a team that had a lot of injuries and a lot of things that were out of our control, so I was trying to just be with the guys. Now, there's a standard we've got to get to. That's my job as one of the leaders to help keep that standard. ... There was a little bit more barking at the beginning of the year to make sure we're staying sharp with that."
Late in the first period Saturday against the Kings, the captain was punching rather than barking. His fight with Kings forward Tanner Jeannot — the Hawks' third fight this season — was a doozy intended to wake up the team.
That bout didn't end up having the desired effect, but his goal early in the third period did, igniting the Hawks' rally for a 4-3 shootout win.
Nick Foligno and Tanner Jeannot drop the gloves pic.twitter.com/HgTW8FHoTC— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) November 2, 2024
Home-cooked meals
Perhaps Foligno's cleverest leadership-related idea last season involved inviting different Hawks over to his house for home-cooked dinners with his wife and three kids. He believed those meet-ups helped him get to know everybody on deeper levels and give some of the quiet, young players a comfortable space in which they could open up.
Although there aren't nearly as many youngsters on this year's roster, Foligno has continued the tradition with some of the summer free-agent signings — some of whom have brought their own families.
"Our schedule hasn't allowed us to do much these past couple road trips, but as we get into the holiday season especially, we'll have more opportunities and be home more to do that," he said. "I'm sure we'll be bugging my wife to do more cooking coming up here."
Saturday observations
Teuvo Teravainen, who has been quiet lately, was demoted to the third line while Donato was promoted to the first line. The Finnish forward made poor play in the offensive zone in the third period and logged only 12:18 of ice time, third-lowest on the team. Coach Luke Richardson said he "went with guys who had a little more skating legs" in overtime; Teravainen didn't get a shift.
Lukas Reichel now has five points in eight games after adding in his beautiful assist to Craig Smith. He deserves a promotion above the fourth line, but his chemistry there with Smith and Pat Maroon makes it a tough decision.
Connor Murphy committed his eighth minor penalty of the season Saturday and has now recorded penalty minutes in nine of 12 total games. His lack of discipline stands out — no other Hawk has taken more than three minors.
T.J. Brodie was healthy-scratched for the first time in favor of Isaak Phillips, who was fine in his season debut. Richardson didn't describe it as an accountability-based decision, but it could be interpreted as such considering Brodie's struggles.
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