Foligno on Blackhawks' Trades: 'We've gotten rid of some distractions'

Chicago Blackhawks' captain Nick Foligno is liking what he's seeing from his hockey club of late, as the Blackhawks are starting to play better hockey this past week. Something Foligno feels has a lot to do with who isn't here, over who is.

Foligno spoke to Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun Times recently, and opened up about the team, and seemingly threw a ton of shade Seth Jones' way, after Jones wanted out and requested a trade:

There's a cohesiveness with the group. We've gotten rid of some distractions, so to speak, and now there's a group that's trying to get better. Sometimes when you make hard decisions, they end up benefiting the group, and you're seeing that.

Guys are playing together, they're playing for one another, they're playing to grow something here and not worried about what's gone on or what guys are feeling," Foligno said. "Everyone here is pulling on the same rope. We know we've got to pull ourselves out of this, and it's a credit to all the guys that - after a lot of distractions and the deadline - we're seeing a group that has come together here. It's encouraging.

The Blackhawks moved Jones to the Florida Panthers for goaltending of the future Spencer Knight, while also moving goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Detroit Red Wings. Chicago is 3-1-2 since making the big trade to move Jones, so perhaps they can turn the corner down the stretch of the season, and find some momentum heading into the summer. However, half their fanbase is probably asking for them to continue losing so they can add another top-3 pick this offseason.

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