Nick Foligno News

Foligno, who was the Blue Jackets' captain, is known for being a great leader who plays a very reliable two-way game. At age-33, Foligno doesn't offer much in the way of offence anymore but will stabilize the Maple Leafs' middle-6 and can move up the lineup in a pinch. He has seven goals and nine assists (16 points) in 42 games this season. The Blue Jackets are retaining 50 percent of his contract and the Sharks are retaining 25 percent in exchange for a 2021 fourth-round pick.

The Blue Jackets continue to get hit hard by injuries and on Saturday they'll be without their captain. Foligno's name has been swirling on the trade market, so perhaps this is more "asset management" than "upper-body injury."

Foligno will replace Riley Nash in his return to the lineup and will look to get things going offensively. Foligno has scored just one goal with six assists in 17 games this season.

Foligno left the Blue Jackets after the team’s December 30th practice as his 5-year-old daughter was scheduled to undergo a heart procedure a day later in Boston. The family didn’t return to Columbus until Tuesday. Foligno returns after missing four games with 20 points (10G / 10A) in 37 contests.

Foligno missed Saturday’s game in Carolina to tend to a family matter, but is expected to replace Oliver Bjorkstrand in the Blue Jackets lineup in Toronto. Foligno has 12 points (6G / 6A) in 19 games this season.

Foligno will be scratched on Saturday, but Artemi Panarin and Riley Nash are expected to be back in the Blue Jackets lineup after missing Thursday’s game with illness. Expect Foligno to be back in the lineup in Toronto on Monday.

Foligno missed the final six games of the regular season, but was on the ice for Monday’s practice and is expected to be in for Game 1 against the Capitals. Foligno, who finished the season with 15 goals and 18 assists (33 points) in 72 games, will centre a line with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Josh Anderson on his wings.

Foligno finished Saturday’s game against the Blues, so there’s no word on when the Blue Jackets’ captain sustained the injury. The timing could not be worse for Foligno, as Columbus has been red-hot and this injury could force him to miss the start of the playoffs. He has picked up one goal and five assists (six points) in his last seven games.

Foligno is feeling under the weather and left the Blue Jackets’ morning skate early, so head coach John Tortorella has listed him as a game-time decision. They will likely recall a forward from Cleveland (AHL) as a precaution.

Foligno missed both of the Blue Jackets’ games over the weekend because of an illness, but he was back on the ice this afternoon and should be back in the lineup on Tuesday. Foligno has had a great season to date, having scored 10 goals with 12 assists (22 points) in 24 games.

Foligno is day-to-day with an illness and it will keep him out of the Blue Jackets' game tonight vs. the Red Wings. With Foligno out, Sam Gagner might get a look on the top line and Oliver Bjorkstrand is expected to draw into the lineup.