Add Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno to those who believe the NHL shouldn’t play games on trade-deadline day.
The deadline arrives at 2 p.m. Friday, and the Hawks — who already made a pair of deals this week — play the Vancouver Canucks at the United Center at 7:30 that night.
“I always thought that was stupid. It’s such a distraction for everybody,” Foligno said Thursday. “Regardless, you’re watching it whether you’re on the (trading) block or not.
“I don’t know why the league hasn’t decided just to make it a practice day for everybody. I think it would help a lot of the teams’ travel.”
Thursday’s practice was the first in a while back at the Blackhawks Ice Center after the Hawks went 1-2-1 on their four-game trip coming out of the Olympic hiatus. As Foligno walked into the locker room, he surely noticed the vacant area next to Connor Bedard’s slot or the slot across the room that now belongs to defenseman Ethan Del Mastro.
Those spots belonged to former alternate captains Jason Dickinson and Connor Murphy, who both were traded to the Edmonton Oilers this week. Foligno has been through plenty of trade deadlines in his 20-year career, but it doesn’t change the emotions.
“For a guy like Murph, it is bittersweet because you love him and what he’s meant to this organization and the city (and) how he’s come in and been a real great ambassador for the Blackhawks through probably a tough time and tough transition,” Foligno said. “He’s always kept his head up and led the right way, so to see him get an opportunity with a really good team is gratifying for us all.
“You see what Jason Dickinson’s meant to this group, and that was a tough guy to lose, just with the way he’s connected with every guy and how much he matters, the way he led, the minutes that he ate that were hard minutes and not-so-fun times. You’re thrilled for a guy like him that gets a chance to slot into an area that really makes a lot of sense when you can look at it.”
Murphy’s “A” patch went to Bedard after the veteran defenseman was dealt Monday for a 2028 second-round pick, and now the Hawks will need another new alternate captain after sending centers Dickinson and Colton Dach to Edmonton on Wednesday night for left wing Andrew Mangiapane and a top-12-protected 2027 first-round pick.
Foligno’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors, too, so the “C” also could be stitched elsewhere by Friday night.
A popular pick as the next alternate or captain is defenseman Alex Vlasic, now the longest-tenured Hawk in his fifth season with the team — an unusual designation for a 24-year-old.
“It’s definitely pretty weird but a great honor and cool opportunity for me to be here with everything that this organization has been through since I’ve been here,” Vlasic said. “I’m really grateful for my experience here and looking forward to the future.”
Blackhawks defenseman Alex Vlasic goes for the puck during the second period against the Penguins on Dec. 28, 2025, at the United Center. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Foligno’s time with the Hawks seems to be nearing its end — if not Friday, likely this offseason for the impending free agent — meaning the locker room will become even younger. Vlasic is ready to step up into a leadership role and carry it for a while.
“The way that (Dickinson) and (Murphy) played the game (was) very honorable, and the way that they played was a way to set the tone and be a leader,” Vlasic said. “We’re going to need some guys to step up and do that.
“I consider myself one of those guys that can potentially do that. So it’s going to be a contribution from everybody in the locker room.”
Foligno, 38, said he has had discussions with general manager Kyle Davidson. The captain put it simply: It’s tough waiting to learn if and when you’ll be moved.
“I made it no surprise how much I care about this group,” Foligno said. “Especially as a guy who’s led this group for a few years, you feel weird when you have those those hard conversations, but it’s the reality of where we’re sitting. There’s always a personal thing that you go through to where you want to still compete and battle and win.
“I believe in this group so much and it’s been an absolute honor to be the captain here, so I’m still fully committed to that until told otherwise. There’s a competitor inside you, too, that wants to be playing meaningful games.”
That’s the plan for the young Hawks, to be in those meaningful games. Bedard, Dach and Ryan Greene vacationed together and told each other that when they win a Stanley Cup, they would come back for a celebratory trip.
Now Dach is in Edmonton — a rapid change of future offseason plans.
“It’s a family and these are guys you’re with every single day,” Bedard said. “You’re maybe a little nervous that guys are going to get moved, but it’s part of it.
“Yesterday was really tough. (Dickinson), I’ve been with the whole time, he’s like an older brother to me. It sucks for sure.”
Bedard already has been an alternate captain this season, so receiving the “A” wasn’t anything new. He likely won’t be without a patch for the rest of his Hawks career.
“It doesn’t change anything I’m going to do as a person (or) as a player, but it’s a good honor to be recognized with that,” he said. “I’ve been able to learn from a lot of great guys in the last three years and feel like I’ve grown a lot in a lot of ways.”
Bedard has seen a lot of teammates come and go in his three seasons. This week’s trades indicate Davidson’s confidence that the young Hawks will flip things around in the future.
“That’s motivating that this is the last year that we’re in a spot where we’re moving guys that help us win games,” Bedard said. “That’s a (expletive) feeling, but (we’ll) try to not let that happen.”
Practice notes
Defenseman Wyatt Kaiser is expected to play against the Canucks on Friday. He has been on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 4 with a lower-body injury but practiced fully Thursday.
Coach Jeff Blashill doesn’t know when Mangiapane, 29, will join the team. He must clear immigration first.
“He gets an opportunity to have a clean slate,” Blashill said. “He’s been a good player in this league (and) he’ll get an opportunity to be a good player here.
“He’s been a guy who’s got really good work ethic and speed. He’s a dog on a bone (and) that fits into how we want to play, and he’s got that with some offensive touch. Where he slots in with which line? We’ll see as we go.”