After three years without a player wearing the "C" on his chest, Nick Foligno will have that honor for the Columbus Blue Jackets .
The team officially announced the new title for Foligno Wednesday morning.
Foligno scored 31 goals and notched 73 points, 34 more than the year before, in a breakout 2014-15 season.
"Nick this season took some big steps forward as a leader in our group," head coach Todd Richards said.
When Columbus hosted the All-Star Game, Foligno got his first taste of being a captain, selecting his "Team Foligno" squad and leading them in the skills challenge and game.
At the end of the regular season, Foligno discussed what being a captain entails: "It's one guy to go to. One guy for coaches to talk to, one guys for management to come down and talk to. He really has the heartbeat of the team in mind, I think it's really good, that's why every team has one."
Now is the time for the Blue Jackets too to have their sixth in team history, Rick Nash being the last in 2012. Prior to that, Lyle Odelein (2000-2), Ray Whitney ('02-'03), Luke Richardson ('03-'05) and Adam Foote ('05-'08) donned the captain's "C."
This captaincy could last longer than any of the ones before, as the Blue Jackets made their long-term commitment to Foligno clear when they signed him to a six-year, $33 million extension on New Year's Eve.
Foligno is obviously respected by his teammates, which is further exhibited in this cool video produced by the Jackets after fans voted the 27-year-old their 2014-15 team MVP.
You voted. We counted. Your 2014-15 #CBJMVP is... https://t.co/cm7kNeOo0e
— NHL Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) May 5, 2015
