Captain Nick Foligno waits for bribes, ‘happy I can’t screw this draft up’

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 2015 NHL All-Star Game marks the first time Nick Foligno will have captained a team, having previously only served as an alternate captain during his junior hockey days.

“It’s about time!” he said.

“Don’t write that.”

Too late, what with it being Media Day and all.

With the All-Star Game captaincy comes great responsibility, obviously. You’re the face of your team, because your name is literally the team’s name. You answer all the inane questions from media about the skills competition and the all-star draft. And your face is plastered on the side of the arena and the front of the official hotel, greeting fans.

“Sorry for everyone that has to look at that,” said Foligno.

He may never have been an actual captain, but Foligno seems born to be one in the All-Star Game. The Columbus Blue Jackets forward obviously lucked into the gig, with the NHL needing a local representative to captain one of the teams. But the charming, light-hearted, happy-to-here temperament perfectly fits the job description – to make this thing fun.

“It’s a pinch-yourself moment,” he said. “I’m proud of it. Worked hard for that recognition. But I didn’t dream for this to happen. I’m just really excited about being around these guys.”

Foligno said he hadn’t formulated a draft strategy yet, and planned to consult his alternate captains before the Friday NHL Fantasy Draft event. “I don’t really have one yet. I have to talk to [Patrick] Kane and [Drew] Doughty for sure. But I’m happy I can’t screw this draft up. I can’t pick a bad player,” he said.

What he can do is help influence the last pick in the draft, who gets a car for their embarrassment. Bobby Ryan of the Ottawa Senators has been actively lobbying not to be that pick, saying “I really don’t want a Kia.”

To the surprise of no one, Ryan has already offered Foligno a bribe.

“I still think everyone’s pride doesn’t want to go last,” said Foligno. “Bobby Ryan already made some pitches. I haven’t been offered dinner yet.”

Not even from Blue Jackets teammate Ryan Johansen?

“Nothing from Jo. Apparently he thinks our friendship is so tight that he doesn’t have to offer me anything,” he said.

But if things don’t work out and Team Toews takes Johansen, there’s always the possibility of a trade, which the NHL reminded Foligno he can do.

“I was like ‘who do I want to trade and why?’“ he said. “I was wondering if Gary Bettman would come out of nowhere and say ‘We have a trade to announce!’”

If Foligno picks the right players and assembles a winning team, could a step up to management be next?

More to the point: Could he ask Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen to let him run the team’s draft table this June?

“I’d hope it,” he said, laughing. “But I doubt it.”