In the Minnesota Wild’s final game of the 2025-26 season, veteran forward Nick Foligno had an offensive breakout. The hard-nosed bottom six forward, who came to the Wild at the trade deadline after serving as the Chicago Blackhawks’ captain for the past two seasons, scored two of Minnesota’s three goals in the first period of what eventually became an overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
The biggest part of the trade for Foligno, who will turn 39 on Halloween, was living out a dream of playing alongside his younger brother Marcus, often on the same line in March, April and May. But in coming to Minnesota, Nick quickly found a new family in St. Paul.
Nick Foligno #71 of the Minnesota Wild waves as he is recognized during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on March 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“I really enjoyed the group of guys, the brothers that I gained,” he said last week as players cleaned out their lockers following the 4-1 series loss to Colorado. “I have one already, but gained about 20 more, and how quickly they brought me in and the way they made me and my family feel … it speaks volumes about what this group has in store, and I’m excited to see what the future holds for them.”
The fact that he said “them” and not “us” might mean nothing. Or it might be a signal that the elder Foligno brother is taking a realistic look toward his future after more than 1,000 NHL games for six different teams since he made his big league debut with Ottawa in 2007.
Foligno played 17 regular-season games with the Wild, scoring a goal and adding three assists, while often teaming with Marcus and center Michael McCarron on a prototypical “muscle” line that was often very effective defensively. In the playoffs, Nick suited up for all 11 games with two goals and an assist.
His second NHL stop was with Columbus, where he spent parts of nine seasons and where his family still makes its home today. Foligno said that is where any decision about his future will be determined.
“I want to get around my family, see my kids and just have that where it just feels like things slow down a little bit, right?,” he said. “It’s been a little bit of a rat race and living out of a hotel. I’m looking forward to having a few home-cooked meals and being with my family.”
Asked if he wanted to keep playing, just 36 hours after the abrupt end to the Wild’s season, Foligno spoke about living out the dream of playing alongside his brother and the moments on the ice, on the bench and in the locker room where they would look at each other with a kind of happy disbelief that this was really happening.
Unable to wear No. 17 because Marcus already was wearing it — it’s the number their father Mike wore during a long NHL career, — Nick chose the reverse, No. 71.
An unrestricted free agent on July 1, Nick missed more than 25 regular-season games in Chicago before joining the Wild and acknowledged that being in game shape at 38 requires more work than it did when he was younger. Before he can commit to reunion with his brother, Nick must determine how much work it will take him to survive the physical demands of another NHL season.
That, too, will include conferring with his family.
“I think the biggest thing is your family and the commitment you have to make to (practice) your craft 100 percent, right?” he said. “I owe it to them. I owe it to myself. I owe it to the team I want to play for that I’m all in, and I think I’m lucky that I get to be still playing at this age and thinking about those things.
“But when I do decide to play, or wherever (that is), I’m going to jump in with two feet and I’m going to make sure I have that full commitment — and I’m going to take some time and figure that out.”
Foligno made $4.5 million this season and was asked if he would be willing to take a pay cut to remain in Minnesota to play with his brother and on a team be believes will be a contender in 2026-27.
“Well,” he joked, “I’m looking for a little less than Kirill (Kaprizov), like $16 million, and then I think we’ll make it work.”