Video: Nick Foligno Named Blackhawks' Captain; Gifted Jersey by His Children

Chicago Blackhawks winger Nick Foligno, who was named the 35th captain in team history on Wednesday, received his first sweater stitched with a "C" from three special guests.

Foligno's children Milana, Landon and Hudson presented him with his new sweater during the Blackhawks' captaincy announcement.

The Blackhawks acquired Foligno via trade in June 2023, then signed him to a two-year extension in January. He served as an alternate captain for the team during the 2023-24 season.

Originally selected in the first round of the 2006 draft by the Ottawa Senators, Foligno spent the first five seasons of his NHL career with the Sens before skating for eight full seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Foligno was named captain of the Blue Jackets following the 2014-15 season, earning the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2017. He held the leadership role for the majority of six seasons in Columbus until his 2021 deadline trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After a brief stint with the Leafs, Foligno spent two seasons with the Boston Bruins prior to his trade to the Blackhawks.

He is the first player to wear the C for the Blackhawks since former Chicago leader Jonathan Toews stepped away from hockey following the 2022-23 season.

Foligno recorded 17 goals and 20 assists for 37 points in 40 games during his first season in Chicago.

The veteran winger, who turns 37 in October, is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Should he decide to retire at the end of his current contract, all eyes would turn to reigning Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard as the team's next potential leader. Bedard will be 20 at the end of Foligno's current deal, the same age Toews was when he had the C stitched on his sweater following the 2007-08 season.

Bedard will now have the opportunity to watch a veteran NHL captain lead the team next season in Foligno, who said when he was first traded to Chicago that he was excited to help mentor the 2023 first overall pick.

"I'm excited about giving him what I've learned," Foligno said told Sportsnet before Bedard's rookie 2023-24 season (h/t NBC Sports' Tori Rubinstein.) "I came into an incredible locker room in Ottawa with some of the leaders and people that I worked with, and feel very fortunate that I've been able to use that... There's so many young players that hopefully we can make a great impression on."

Foligno will now continue that mentorship work with the Blackhawks' young stars as he heads into his seventh season as an NHL captain this fall.