• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
Columbus Blue Jackets

The Password Is Foligno

By Geoff Hammersley October 20th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

For the Columbus Blue Jackets, the season is only five games young. In these five games, the Jackets have managed to get off to a modest 3-2-0 start. Ryan Johansen has 3 goals, Fedor Tyutin has a +4, and Nick Foligno has 7 (!) points.

That’s not a misprint; Foligno has found the back of the net twice, and has assisted on five other goals. This isn’t NHL 15, and Foligno isn’t playing with a modified controller. He is producing in real life for the Blue Jackets.

There are some reasons for why Foligno is off to a sensational start.

Exhibit A: He corrals the puck around the net, and goals happen.

Ryan Johansen was able to stuff the puck into the net because Foligno was able to set the whole operation up. If the Blue Jackets were to reenact Ocean’s Eleven, Foligno would be Danny Ocean — setting up the whole operation, and garnering all the assists. [I know, it’s a terrible movie reference; I’ll show myself out after this article is finished]

But before I go, let’s look at more evidence at why Foligno is the centerpiece to the Blue Jackets offense.

I’ll Take ‘Help From My Friends’ for $1000, Alex

As mentioned above, Foligno has five assists. The video above showed the Foligno assist to a Johansen goal against the Dallas Stars, but what you may not have known is that Foligno has an assist in every game this season. Using shoddy probability — and by shoddy, I mean taking his 1.00 assist/per game average, and multiplying it by 82– Foligno will end with 82 assists this season. Who knows, Foligno may get hotter (which would be fantastic for the Blue Jackets) as the season progresses. But one thing is for certain: five Blue Jacket goals would’ve been in jeopardy if Foligno wasn’t there with the assist.

When Opportunity Knocks

At the moment, Brandon Dubinsky is out with an injury; so is Nathan Horton. If Foligno was going to make a statement, now would’ve been the time.

#CBJ Brandon Dubinsky lost for 6 weeks after abdominal surgery this morning.

— Rusty Miller (@RustyMillerAP) October 8, 2014

When the Dubinsky injury was announced on the eve of the regular season, the question was who was going to step up. Foligno easily has become the who. This shouldn’t be a surprise, though. Foligno did score an overtime playoff goal against the Penguins last season, and was a factor in the Blue Jackets run to the postseason.

Exhibit B: Foligno can score goals in crunch time (Game 4 of Eastern Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh)

Exhibit C: Foligno can score goals on the slide

Basically, when the goal opportunity comes knocking, Foligno answers the door, and scores by any means necessary. He is the NHL’s version of MacGyver. Instead of duct tape and a Swiss Army Knife, Foligno has skates and a stick.

Even though it seems like Foligno’s hot start is straight out of a video game, it’s nothing to be surprised about. In the past, we’ve seen glimmers of what he can do. Even in his Ottawa Senator days, he showed the potential to be a breakout star. Now with the right components in Columbus, Foligno is just a piece of the Jarmo Kekalainen symphony. However, he has the spotlight — the solo — at the moment.

And that shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone.

 

 

  • Tags
  • Brandon Dubinsky
  • Nick Foligno
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 23rd 9:45 AM
Boston Bruins

Flyers’ Voracek Makes History in Loss to Bruins

Jan 23rd 9:25 AM
Carolina Hurricanes

Hurricanes’ Season Put on Pause Due to COVID-19 Protocol

Jan 23rd 9:15 AM
Commentary

NHL Honors Willie O’Ree’s Legacy, But Struggles With Diversity Continue

Jan 23rd 9:05 AM
Colorado Avalanche

3 Takeaways From Avalanche’s OT Win Against Ducks

Jan 23rd 8:55 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs’ Adam Brooks Makes the Most of His Opportunity

Jan 23rd 8:45 AM
Advanced Stats

Devils Must Find Ways to Get Gusev & Johnsson Going

Jan 23rd 8:35 AM
Washington Capitals

Today in Hockey History: Jan. 23

Jan 22nd 6:25 PM
Column

Winnipeg Jets News & Rumors: Hellebuyck, Scheifele, Ehlers & Connor

Jan 22nd 5:35 PM
Advanced Stats

Kings’ Anze Kopitar Still Has Trade Value, But Big Cap Hit Hurts

Jan 22nd 5:25 PM
Columbus Blue Jackets

Blue Jackets Held Back By John Tortorella’s Stubbornness

Editor’s Picks
2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

2021 NHL Draft Rankings: Baracchini's Top 75 Rankings

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information