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The Chicago Blackhawks made waves on Wednesday when they named Nick Foligno the captain over Connor Bedard. While Bedard is arguably the best player on the team, the vacated captain spot was handed to veteran Foligno, who has played for several other teams. This move divided fans and will certainly be a talking point all season, but there are a few reasons for this decision.
Why Nick Foligno is the new Blackhawks captain instead of Connor Bedard
3) Foligno has captain experience
Nick Foligno has experience in a captain's role. Connor Bedard doesn't. Foligno is not a long-time Blackhawk, but he has served as a captain for several seasons. He served as captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets. That kind of experience means he knows what the role requires and how best to do it. Bedard, for all the skills and production he does have, does not know those things yet. He may in time, but for now, the Hawks are opting to go with someone who does.
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2) Talent doesn't equal leadership
The best player on a team, which is arguably Bedard in this case, isn't always the captain. Sometimes it is, but leadership has more to it than just talent. Bedard has a ton of talent, but he may not be ready to lead this team. He's just 19-years-old, and thrusting captaincy on him may not be a good idea. He's great and only getting better, but that largely has nothing to do with leading an NHL team.
1) Age
Nick Foligno is an NHL veteran. He was drafted in 2006, so he's been around the sport for a very long time. That kind of age and experience is often a very helpful aspect in leadership. He knows a lot because he's seen a lot. Connor Bedard, for all his talent, is still very young. He didn't play a full season last year, which was his first ever in this league. Making a second-year player captain is very rare, and the Blackhawks opted for the veteran instead. However, with Foligno at 36-years-old, the captain's role may be Bedard's one day soon.
