Blue Jacket desertions perplexing to Foligno
Nick Foligno isn’t bitter or upset about the mass exodus of free agents from the Columbus Blue Jackets this summer.
It’s just that in a few cases, he doesn’t quite understand the logic.
Star winger Artemi Panarin, No. 1 goalie Sergei Bobrovsky and trade deadline acquisition Matt Duchene all signed elsewhere July 1 despite the fact Columbus swept the 128-point Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out to the Boston Bruins in a tight, six-game series.
Foligno, the Blue Jackets’ captain, gets Duchene’s decision to sign with the Nashville Predators — he thinks the centre probably would have stayed if the perfect deal hadn’t come along.
Panarin, who inked with the New York Rangers, and Bobrovsky, now a member of the Florida Panthers, are different stories.
They’d been around a lot longer, endured some of the tough times, and were part of a core that finally got Columbus its first post-season series win in franchise history.
But the allure of the Big Apple and South Beach — along with boatloads of cash — was too tempting.
“We did everything we possibly could to show them we’re a legit team,” Foligno said in a recent phone interview. “In a way it was a surprise (they left), but it was their right.
“My thing is, you don’t leave a good team to try to find another one. What we’re building in Columbus, everyone is excited to be part of it. You want guys fully on board.”
Panarin, 27, signed a sevenyear, US$81.5-million contract with the Rangers that made him the highest-paid winger in NHL history. Bobrovsky, who will be 31 when the 2019-20 season begins, inked a seven-year, $70million deal with the Panthers.
And Duchene, 28, agreed to a pact in Music City worth $56 million over the next seven seasons. Foligno said that while seeing those teammates leave was difficult, he had no complaints regarding their commitment on the ice.
“Had they dogged it or caused problems or not given it their best, then you have issues,” said the 31-year-old. “But between Bob and (Panarin) and Matt, they all worked extremely hard. It’s their choice to go. You don’t agree with it, but you want guys that want to play in Columbus.”
Foligno’s focus will soon pivot to the season ahead where the Blue Jackets have already been written off in many circles, but his first order of business is an important charity event coming up this weekend in Sudbury.