Nick Foligno knows a thing or two about the burden of expectations.
For some players, it's a four-letter word. The Blue Jackets bore the load of lofty expectations entering the 2015-16 season, and we all remember what came of it: a hideous 0-7-0 start, the firing of Todd Richards and the hiring of John Tortorella, and a 75-game stretch of playing out the string. In October.
Last season, the chip was engraved on their collective shoulder. Tortorella pushed them to earn respect around the league and work to earn their place among the NHL's top teams. They did that, of course, but it was one season.
Just as Tortorella reminds his players that their 108-point campaign earned them "10 extra days" at the end of the season, Foligno knows their strong season means nothing if it becomes a mere footnote in their record book.
The best teams don't stop there. That's the challenge ahead for the Blue Jackets.
Training Camp 2017
"Anyone can have one great season, but if you put a consistent season together with another one and another one and another one, now you’re for real," Foligno said last week. "Now you’re starting to put yourself in a category of a dominant team year in and year out that teams aspire to be. A lot of teams hated the way we played because we were hard to play against, and that’s a huge compliment."
In the early part of 2016-17, the Blue Jackets caught many teams off guard. Once the league came around to accepting that these guys were the real deal, the games got harder. The power play was a focal point. Teams knew to keep an eye on Zach Werenski and Seth Jones. Secrets don't stay that way for long in the NHL.
On top of that, the players who delivered with strong seasons will be expected to contribute even more this time around. Alexander Wennberg came one point shy of 60, Foligno bounced back with 50-plus points after a nightmarish season and Cam Atkinson scored 35 goals.
What you did last year? Great. Now do it again. That's what the best do.
"We need to be that team, those players…everyone had great years last year," Foligno said. "We have to be even better. We’re at a pivotal point in our careers, as players, as a team. To move this thing forward, we’re all going to have to dig a little deeper and find a way to become that team.
"I think the guys are excited about that challenge because it’s a good challenge to have. You’re putting yourself in elite company, and we want that."
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