When left wing Nick Foligno was traded to Columbus from the Ottawa Senators for defenseman Marc Methot on July 1, 2012, he was coming off the best season of his NHL career after recording 15-32-47.
It was a time of transition for both Foligno and the Blue Jackets. His second season in Columbus saw him set new career-highs in goals and points, notching 18-21-39. That season also saw the Blue Jackets return to the playoffs for just the second time in their brief history.
It was also during that season that he and his wife Janelle welcomed the birth of their daughter Milana Maria Foligno on Oct. 14, 2013. Diagnosed with a congenital heart defect after her birth, she underwent successful heart valve surgery November 8, 2013 at Boston Children's Hospital. She was 25 days old.
There are many factors that change a person's perspective on life. It would be a vast understatement to say that the birth of his daughter, and the trials and tribulations of her health, were a game-changer for him. They were the catalyst to not only becoming the best father that he could, but also to sharpen his focus on the game that he loves.
Prior to the birth of Milana, he played a hard-nosed game with an almost reckless abandon at times. His best year in Ottawa saw him accumulate 124 penalties in minutes, including three fighting majors, two misconducts and a game misconduct.
Subsequently, over the course of 72 games played this season, he's shattered his career totals in points and set new career-highs in goals and assists. With just seven games remaining in the season, he's recorded 26-39-65 with just 46 penalties in minutes.
"I attribute it to my growth as a player," Foligno said, "taking seriously the type of player that I want to be and finding a way to do it. Obviously, I would have liked the season to have gone better for the team. You feel better when the team is doing well and you're having personal success."
He was signed to a six-year, $33M contract extension on Dec. 31, 2014, coinciding with him playing his 500th game in the NHL. This constituted a $2.45M raise per year over his old contract. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said at the time, "It's not all about statistics, obviously. We want guys that want to be Blue Jackets and play the way we want the Blue Jackets to play. Nick Foligno does that. He's a big part of our future."
Is this simply a case of it being a contract year for Foligno? Or, is he a late-bloomer that will play at this higher pace for a few more years?
"Throughout careers," said Blue Jackets head coach Todd Richards, "you always have that one breakout year. Is this it for him? I don't know. Going forward, can this be his standard? Can next year be better than this year? I wouldn't see why not.
"You watch him play every day and the things that he does and can bring to our team, and he's got a physical edge to his game. I think that helps him in having success in the offensive zone. When he's engaged into the game on an emotional level and a physical level, to me, just like everybody else, you're going to be a better player. He went out and he earned it this year."
He's playing well and has become a more versatile player for Todd Richards and the team. Whether that's skating in his natural position on the left wing or moving to center because of the dearth of players lost due to injury, he wants to do everything he can to help the team become successful.
"He's been given some opportunities this year because he earned those opportunities," said Richards, "by how he worked and how he played. He's obviously cashed in on those opportunities. You can see it in his ability. He's a good skater and strong on the puck. He's got good vision, good hands and he's got a good shot."
He's played up and down the lineup in whatever position the team needs him in. Playing with center Artem Anisimov, who missed 23 games with a torn triceps muscle, he's helped out in the faceoff circle. He also hasn't looked out of place on the top line with star-center Ryan Johansen. Foligno is averaging 18:13 time on ice this season, while averaging 2:33 time on ice for the power play unit.
"I think it's just a full-on commitment by myself to really be the player I envisioned," said Foligno, "to be the player the team envisioned and take that next step. I feel like I've done that and want to continue to do that.
"It's not just a one year thing. It's all year long - it's the rest of this season and the rest of my career. I've got to find a way to continue to do this at this production level for a lot more years."
Nick Foligno is on pace to record 28-42-70 this season. Is this a sustainable pace for him? Only time will tell that tale. And time is one thing that's on his side. His contract extension will see him wearing union blue through the 2020-21 season.
The team made a commitment to him, and he made a commitment to the organization. It's a relationship that both team and player hope will bear fruit for many years to come. Foligno is becoming the embodiment of what it means to be a Blue Jacket. In fact, he's earned it.
The Blue Jackets return to action Tuesday as they host the New Jersey Devils at 7 p.m., with the FOX Sports Ohio pregame show "Blue Jackets LIVE" beginning at 6:30 p.m.
