After an offseason spent in meetings and taking in leadership advice, Nick Foligno is eager to finally take the ice as Columbus Blue Jackets captain.
"I'm more comfortable on the ice, that's for sure," Foligno told the Columbus Dispatch on Thursday. "That's where I can do my leading and be that guy."
Foligno was named the sixth captain in franchise history May 20. He is the first since Rick Nash wore the "C" for the 2011-12 season.
Former Ottawa Senators teammate Daniel Alfredsson was among those from whom Foligno sought advice after he was named captain, the Dispatch reported. Alfredsson was Ottawa's captain for 13 seasons.
He also spoke to his father, Mike Foligno, an assistant with the New Jersey Devils and a former NHL player, as well as Columbus management.
"I have my own personality and my own way of doing things, but I wanted to make sure we were on the same page," Foligno said.
The Blue Jackets reported for training camp Thursday, taking physicals and getting reacquainted with one another. They will have their first practice Friday.
After Columbus won 15 of its final 17 games last season, added forward Brandon Saad in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on June 30 and signed him to a six-year contract three days later, expectations are high for the Blue Jackets.
"We're going to have a great season," Foligno said. "I've never been on a team like this. There's something different about this team. These guys are awesome right now. There's something there and it's special, and I can feel it."
Foligno established NHL career highs with 31 goals, 11 power-play goals, 42 assists, 73 points, 182 shots on goal and a plus-16 rating last season. He has 116 goals and 279 points in 545 games with the Blue Jackets and Senators.
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