Blackhawks sign veteran forward Nick Foligno

This just in, the Chicago Blackhawks have signed veteran forward Nick Foligno to a one year contract worth $4 million.

The Blackhawks acquired Foligno just yesterday from the Boston Bruins along with veteran forward Taylor Hall for defensemen Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula. The deal was largely seen as a salary cap dump on behalf of the Bruins in order to free up some cash for pending unrestricted free agents Tyler Bertuzzi and/or Dimitri Orlov.

Personally, I felt like the Blackhawks would let Foligno walk to the open market as a free agent, so today's news surprises me a bit. Having said that, the Blackhawks have cleared out an enormous amount of salary in the past calendar year and needed to add some high priced contracts in order to get up to the NHL's salary cap floor. Plus, adding quality veteran players like Foligno and Hall should help aid a young team in transition. Especially on a one year deal. I feel it's important to note that the Blackhawks have just four players signed beyond this upcoming season. 

Make no mistake, starting Wednesday afternoon this Blackhawks team becomes Connor Bedard's team. Gone are the likes of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. In comes Bedard where he'll be surrounded by guys like Foligno, Hall and Tyler Johnson.

As for Foligno, he gets one last good pay day and a chance to hit the open market as a free agent next offseason, or even hit the trade market come deadline time in 2024. The 35 year old Buffalo native put up 10 goals and 26 points in 60 games with the Bruins last season mostly in a 3rd and 4th line role.