Foligno praises Blue Jackets 'statement' offseason
Columbus Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno told Sportsnet he's very happy with the Blue Jackets offseason, especially the trade for Brandon Saad.
"I was really, really happy. The organization is making a statement about what type of team we want to be, how serious we are about winning. You bring in a player like Brandon Saad, who's won two Cups already, it's a big statement," Foligno told Sportsnet this week at the Smile Zone Foundation golf tournament in Ontario.
"It's a huge pickup for us. He's an unbelievable talent, and a young player at that," Foligno said, "You'll get a lot of great years out of a player like him. Another guy they bring in Gregory Campbell, who's already won a Cup. They're really pushing for us to become the team we know we can be."
Foligno and Saad are coming off their best seasons yet. Saad set career highs in goals (23), assists (29), and playoff goals (eight), while Foligno set his own career highs in goals (31) and assists (42).
Foligno told Sportsnet he phoned Saad and Campbell as soon as they joined.
"They were really receptive and eager to come," Foligno said, "And it's going to make a huge difference come training camp when they feel that way already and can start helping us win games."
