Starting with Nick Foligno, there's ample leadership in Chicago, even if no one wears a "C". And no, Connor Bedard isn't ready yet for a letter on his sweater.

Even with Calder Trophy winner Connor Bedard, the Chicago Blackhawks were a thin, rebuilding team last season. Then they were hit by waves of injuries and plain desperate for bodies.

At 23-53-6, the 31st-place Blackhawks were bad. But they weren't underachieving and, well, douchey, like the Toronto Maple Leafs who haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1967. Longtime Blackhawks general manager Bob Pulford, now 88 years old, played for that championship team.

So while the Leafs switched their captaincy from John Tavares to Auston Matthews in front of TV cameras last week, the Blackhawks remained without a formal captain. 

Chicago might do so again this season. Just as well.

First, the Blackhawks have a de facto captain in Nick Foligno, one of three alternates along with Connor Murphy and Seth Jones last season. Foligno, who did wear a "C" for the Columbus Blue Jackets for six seasons, took charge of the team's dressing room in a hurry.

In deference to departed, but not formally retired, captain Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks didn't name a captain for 2023-24. Foligno, the father of three, is gregarious and projects a boundless "super dad" energy. Toews, a.k.a "Captain Serious" was reserved and quietly intense.

By the way, both Foligno and Toews have received the Mark Messier Leadership Award. Messier selects the winner for "leading by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes."

By accounts, Foligno was reaching out to most, if not all, of the players the Blackhawks acquired through free agency, trades and the draft this summer. Even if from his summer home in Sudbury, Ontario, he was working his phone.

Foligno might actually get a less ice time this season than the 17:46 average he had in 2023-24 when he was pressed into a top-6 forward role. He enters his 18th NHL season and turns 37 in October.

There's a lot more depth on the Blackhawks after they added eight players via free agency, topped by forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Teuvo Teravainen. Jones and Murphy will be back on defense and joined by veterans Alec Martinez and T.J. Brodie.

Just Let Bedard Play

There's plenty of guidance to go around. And more talent to support youngsters like Bedard.

And no, Bedard, isn't ready to wear a letter in the NHL at age 19. He's gifted and plenty hockey-smart, but still learning the ropes under the direction of what he calls "the old guys" in the dressing room.

It's still too early to tell if Bedard will become the type of player who will wear a letter. Bedard has been compared to Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby as a "next generational talent," but didn't make the same rookie impression Crosby did back in 2005-06.

Crosby was named the Penguins captain after the 2006-07 season, his second, when he was just 19. It may take Bedard a little longer to develop the presence for that kind of consideration.

No rush. Foligno and others are under contract in the meantime.