The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded captain Nick Foligno to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In exchange, the Blue Jackets receive a first-round pick in this year's NHL draft, as well as a fourth-round pick in next year's draft.
The trade was first reported by TSN's Frank Seravalli.
TRADE: We have acquired a first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft from Toronto in exchange for F Nick Foligno.#CBJ | @Huntington_Bank
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) April 11, 2021
Down https://t.co/h8Sfxk0rDg
Similar to the late-week trade of David Savard to the Tampa Bay Lightning, a third team is involved to help make the trade work financially. This time, it's the San Jose Sharks, who will pay 50% of Foligno's remaining contract in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick from Toronto in this year's draft.
The Blue Jackets will retain the other half of his remaining salary.
This is the second trade that Columbus and Toronto have made in recent days. The Maple Leafs acquired another Blue Jackets veteran forward, Riley Nash, last week in exchange for a conditional draft pick.
In a text to The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun, Foligno said he is "really excited for the opportunity", calling it "bittersweet with how much has been invested in Columbus, but a chance to win a Cup is all you can ask for and I truly feel it’s a great group in Toronto. Now the work begins.’’
Foligno was just one game shy of his 600th game as a Blue Jacket. In 599 career games in a Columbus sweater, he scored 142 goals and added 192 assists. Foligno also gave the franchise one of it's most joyous moments, when his overtime goal in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs gave the Blue Jackets their first home playoff victory.
In a statement, general manager Jarmo Kekalainen referred to Foligno as "everything you'd want in a captain, in a representative of your team and ambassador for your community."
"We are grateful for everything he, (wife) Janelle, and their family have done for and with us over the past nine years. Given where we are right now, this move made sense for us as an organization and for Nick."
Foligno may not finish his Blue Jackets career at 599 games; he will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and while it's rare to see a player traded at the deadline return to the team that he was traded from, this could be an exception.
The now-former Blue Jackets captain has built a family in Columbus, and has strong ties to the community; one that, along with the Blue Jackets franchise, has been outstanding in their support of the Foligno family through difficult times. None more difficult, of course, than the multiple heart surgeries of the Foligno's daughter, Milana. Just last year, Janelle Foligno penned a children's book to help other kids cope with the stress that comes with situation similar to the one Milana found herself in.
If Foligno does indeed resign with Columbus once this season comes to an end, Kekalainen will have acquired two draft picks - including a first-rounder this year - for Foligno to miss just the final 13 games of the Blue Jackets season.
