Nick Foligno blocked a shot off his left hand in the second period of Saturday’s game against the Maple Leafs and did not return. Bob Frid / Imagn Images
CHICAGO – The Chicago Blackhawks will be without their captain, Nick Foligno, for approximately four weeks after he blocked a shot off his left hand during Saturday’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Foligno was standing at the top of the left circle when Leafs defenseman Jake McCabe stepped into a shot from the right point and connected with Foligno’s left hand. Foligno immediately curled up in pain, skated off the ice and went to the dressing room late in the second period. He did not return to the game.
Foligno went right to the room after blocking this shot off the hand pic.twitter.com/71ebSNHaE9
— BHF (@BlackhawksFocus) November 16, 2025
“Nick is going to be out for an extended period of time,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said after his team’s 3-2 win. “Probably if I was to estimate, it’d be four weeks, but it might be a little bit less, a little bit more. I don’t love putting timelines on it. It’s not six months, but it’s not two days.”
Blashill has leaned on Foligno most of this season as a bottom-six forward and on the penalty kill. Foligno and his line had been more of an offensive factor in the last two games. He contributed two goals in the Blackhawks’ overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday and another goal on Saturday.
But more than anything, Foligno has been the vocal leader of the Blackhawks since arriving three seasons ago and was the first captain named after Jonathan Toews.
“That’s tough to see,” Blackhawks veteran forward Teuvo Teräväinen said of Folign’s injury. “Tough bounces, that’s what happens sometimes when you’re battling hard. He’s a big guy. He’s our captain here. He’s vocal in the locker room. He’s everything on this team. Hopefully we can get him back as soon as we can.”
Nov 16, 2025
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