Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
We’ve heard a ton of trade rumors swirling around the Minnesota Wild in recent weeks. But over the past few days, president of hockey operations Bill Guerin has been putting plans into action, making multiple moves leading up to the 2 p.m. CST NHL trade deadline later today.
Billy has yet to deliver his second blockbuster of the 2025-26 season, after trading for superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes back in December. This week, however, Minnesota’s bottom lines have been completely reshaped.
Earlier Friday, Guerin’s wheeling and dealing continued for the third-straight day, when Minnesota officially gave up on the David Jiricek experiment by trading the 20-year-old trade bust to Detroit in exchange for 24-year-old “one of us” wing, Bobby Brink.
Minnesota Wild trade for Nick Foligno
From there, Billy quickly turned his attention to uniting two brothers in a MN Wild sweater. Unfortunately, it’s not the Hughes brothers. Instead, the Wild are sending cash considerations — or per Michael Russo (The Athletic): “aka nothing” — to Chicago, in exchange for Marcus Foligno’s older brother, Nick Foligno.
The Wild are trading for Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno, where he can play with his brother Marcus per sources.
This is Chicago doing their captain a solid to chase a Cup. No retention (Blackhawks don’t have retention spots left)
— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) March 6, 2026
#mnwild traded future considerations to Chicago for Foligno (aka nothing), so this is to give Foligno a chance for a long playoff run and what they hope is more
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) March 6, 2026
When it comes to his talent, 38-year-old Nick Foligno is far beyond his prime — which undoubtedly came in 2014-15 when he posted 73 points (31 goals, 42 assists) with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
What will elder Foligno brother bring to Minnesota
Much like his younger brother, putting up a bunch of points has never really been Nick Foligno’s game, which has allowed the 6’0″, 210 pound forward to age like a fine wine. Nick’s 37 points (17 goals, 20 assists) in 2023-24 (his first season in Chicago) were the most points he’s scored since 2016-17.
Last year, Foligno followed up with 35 more points. Unfortunately, a November hand injury has limited Nick to just 37 games this season. Combine that with his decrease in ice time (15:55 –> 12:48), and it’s no surprise he has managed just 3 goals and 8 assists so far this season.
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But what Nick Foligno will really bring to the Minnesota Wild cannot be measured by goals or assists. Instead, Bill Guerin is hoping that the 19-year NHL veteran’s leadership and locker room presence will result in the only statistical category that matters, and that’s playoff wins.
Connor Bedard reacts to Nick Foligno being traded pic.twitter.com/mrXc0iJJo1
— CHGO Blackhawks (@CHGO_Blackhawks) March 6, 2026
Part 3 (last one! 😬) I also love how #17 Nick Foligno’s hockey brain is telling him “be ready for ANYTHING.” He knows Bedard could do 3 different things here and he’s going to ready for any of them. That’s being ENGAGED at all times. Then his sauce back to the finisher is 🤌🏻. If… pic.twitter.com/uQ3EQJYkDh
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) November 10, 2023
Mentioned in this article: NHL Trade NHL Trade Deadline Nick Foligno
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