Blackhawks have their new captain!

The Chicago Blackhawks have named veteran forward Nick Foligno the 35th captain in franchise history on Wednesday.

“In a very short amount of time, Nick has quickly earned the respect of his teammates and our staff,” said Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson. “Nick’s commanding presence in the locker room has been instrumental in helping the team find its identity. He has served as a mentor to many of our young players both on and off the ice while also heading up the leadership group comprised of our veteran players, and we are beyond confident that he will flourish in the role of captain as we usher in a new era of Blackhawks hockey.”

Foligno, who is heading into his second season as a member of the Hawks, will become the first player to wear the C for Chicago since Jonathan Toews, who captained the Blackhawks from 2008 to 2023.

“The fact that Danny [Wirtz], Kyle [Davidson], Luke [Richardson] and my teammates have all put their faith in me to lead this amazing group is extremely humbling, and I thank them all for the opportunity,” Foligno said. “I am beyond honored to serve as captain for this storied franchise and its incredible fans, especially during such a pivotal time toward the team’s future.”

The veteran of 17 seasons in the NHL appeared in 1,155 career regular season games, scoring 232 goals with 562 points split between the Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Blackhawks. He was selected 28th overall by Ottawa in 2005, and after five seasons with the Sens, he was traded to the Blue Jackets on July 1, 2012 in exchange for defenceman March Methot. Foligno played eight and a half seasons with Columbus, captaining them for six seasons.

The Blackhawks open their regular season on Oct. 8 against the Utah Hockey Club, and Foligno will proudly wear the C.