Nick Foligno not likely to be back in Toronto

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Jeff Drouin
July 20, 2021 (1:59 PM)

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All indications are that forward Nick Foligno will have only passed through Toronto. Foligno has removed his Maple Leafs endorsement and profile picture on his Twitter account.

Foligno, 33, just completed the final year of his contract and will become an uncompensated free agent. All indications are that he will test the market and not be back in Toronto for the 2020-21 season. Overall, Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas paid a lot of money in the deal involving the former Columbus Blue Jackets captain, essentially paying a first round pick and two fourth round picks in return for Foligno (from Columbus) and Stefan Noesen (from San Jose) in a three-team deal. Let's just say that at that price, Toronto's GM probably expected a lot more than five assists in 11 games (including playoffs) from Foligno.

Family reunion?

According to reports, there is a strong possibility that Nick will join his younger brother Marcus Foligno with the Minnesota Wild.

Besides the possibility of staying in Toronto, Nick Foligno still has a strong attachment to the city and the Columbus organization and many believed he would return to the Blues Jackets at the end of this season. However, after Bill Guerin and the Minnesota Wild bought out Zach Parise and Ryan Suter and protected his brother Marcus for the Seattle draft, who is already on a long-term contract with the team, there is now a new and more interesting option for him. Columbus may still be in rebuilding mode, while Minnesota is a playoff team.

For now, the Seattle Kraken has the right to interview him, but barring a surprise, expect Nick Foligno to sign a short-term contract with the Minnesota Wild.

To be continued...