The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded their captain and one of the main faces of the franchise. The Jackets sent six-year captain Nick Foligno to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday, a day ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
In return, Columbus gets a first-round draft pick this year and a fourth-round selection next year. Foligno came to Columbus in 2012 in a trade from the Ottawa Senators.
The forward ranks third in franchise history in goals, assists, points and games played.
On Sunday, Foligno tweeted that his love of the city of Columbus and Blue Jackets fans “could never be measured.”
My love for the city of Columbus and you, the fans, could never be measured. Thank you for allowing me to lead your team. To my teammates... It was an honor to battle with you! Til the cannon fires again!...💥💥💥 “I Salute You!” https://t.co/Iwn2htWxED
— Nick Foligno (@NickFoligno) April 12, 2021
As a part of the deal, Columbus retains half of Foligno's salary. The third team in the deal, the San Jose Sharks get a 2021 fourth-rounder from Toronto for taking 25% of Foligno's $5.5 million salary-cap hit to make it work on the Maple Leafs' books.
The Foligno deal ended a busy weekend for the Blue Jackets. The club used three trades to add five picks in the next two drafts.
Defenseman David Savard was dealt to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. In exchange for Savard, who one of the most sought-after players ahead of the trade deadline, the Blue Jackets received a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 third-rounder.
Three teams were also involved in this deal for salary cap reasons. Tampa Bay also sent a 2021 fourth-rounder to Detroit. The Blue Jackets retained half of Savard's salary and the Red Wings got involved to pick up a quarter of it to help the cap-strapped Lightning.
Both Foligno and Savard are pending free agents.
On Friday, forward Riley Nash was traded to Toronto for a 2022 seventh-round draft pick.
The weekend moves by the struggling Blue Jackets were designed to deal highly-paid veterans in exchange for draft picks.
The Jackets were in the thick of the playoff race earlier this year and had been considered to be a potential buyer ahead of the trade deadline, but now rank second to last in the Central Division and have won just two of their last seven games.
