Nick Foligno opens up about the injury that ended his time in Toronto

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Josh tupper
August 12, 2024 (2:27 PM)

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Nick Foligno opens up about the injury that ended his time in Toronto during a game against the guy Montreal Canadiens

When the Toronto Maple Leafs made the trade for veteran forward Nick Foligno it was a homecoming of sorts. Foligno it was following in his Father's footsteps and playing for the same team that his dad once had. The trade was surrounded by significant excitement, until injury struck.

When Foligno arrived in Toronto. It was as a part of the NHL 's North Division. The division the league had created to combat the current COVID restrictions. This season created some unique challenges including those surrounding medical as teams were unable to vet players before they arrive.

After arriving in Toronto, it became clear that Foligno wasn't 100%. On a recent edition of the Dropping the Gloves Podcast Foligno opened up about what went wrong.

I was actually playing really well the first few games I was playing with and then for whatever reason my back just, I remember it actually, I remember feeling I woke up we had a long flight back from Vancouver. I got to Montreal or was it yeah Vancouver got to Montreal and uh just I don't know if it was the plane or what but just my back just was tight that night and I went to stop in front of the net and I have no idea why but for whatever reason boom everything just locked up. I was completely stuck couldn't even get off the ice actually, it was funny Josh Anderson was next to me and we played together in Columbus, and kind of like shoved me in front I'm like and he's like "oh my God are you all right?"

I'm like, "I can't move" like so he was like trying to help me off the ice and he's he was like "dude, what just happened?"

That was the moment that Foligno's time in Toronto began to derail. From there Foligno was in and out of the lineup and was unable to find his footing. Foligno, who is known for his toughness, even missed some playoff games as he tried to fight through the injury. The season would go off track and the Leafs would end up losing in the first round to the Montreal Canadiens.

While on the podcast, Foligno mentioned all the things he thought he could bring to Toronto and how difficult this lose was to him.

«I felt like I could really help on the ice and off the ice to get them over the hump. That's why I picked [Toronto], that's why I felt like I wanted to go there-to put my stamp on that team. That's probably the thing that bothered me the most. I think I was just so frustrated because I knew I was really hurt, and I knew how much they invested in me, and I was trying to push through it. I was a shell of myself.

«I couldn't help galvanize the team; I couldn't do what I wanted to do on and off the ice. I'm sure the Toronto fans are just as disappointed with how it all shook out. But I guarantee you, I'm more disappointed, and it's just something you're going to have to live with.»

Unfortunately for Foligno, he was unable to come to terms with the Maple Leafs on a return and instead he joined the rival Boston Bruins. Even after departing, Foligno still remains true that he still feels he let Leafs fans down and feels like there was unfinished business.

Source: Dropping the Gloves Podcast
Nick Foligno Episode

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If Nick Foligno was healthy, would the Toronto Maple Leafs have beaten the Montreal Canadiens?
Yes, without a doubt	24	29.3 %
No, they'd still choke	43	52.4 %
It's too close to call	15	18.3 %
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