Marcus Foligno

Marcus Foligno (; born August 10, 1991) is an American-Canadian professional hockey player who is a winger and alternate captain for the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "Moose", he was selected 104th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2009 NHL entry draft.

Playing career As a youth, Foligno played in the 2003 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with a minor ice hockey team from Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Junior Foligno was selected by the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)'s Sudbury Wolves in the second round, 39th overall, in the 2007 OHL Priority Selection, the same team that drafted his older brother, Nick. After two seasons with the club, Foligno was selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2009 NHL entry draft. Foligno spent an additional two seasons with the Wolves, with his best coming during the 2010–11 season, in which he recorded 23 goals and 59 points in 47 games.

Buffalo Sabres

Foligno agreed to terms on an entry-level professional contract with the Buffalo Sabres on May 25, 2011. He began play with the Sabres' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Rochester Americans, in the 2011–12 season. Foligno was called up to the Sabres on December 19, 2011, and made his NHL debut on December 20, playing against the Ottawa Senators, the team his brother Nick Foligno was playing with at the time. Marcus Foligno's second career start came March 10, 2012, again against his brother and the Ottawa Senators. Foligno scored his first career goal at 14:06 in the third period, which tied the game; Buffalo eventually won the game in a shootout.

Like his brother Nick, Marcus Foligno used their father's "Foligno Leap" as his first career goal celebration. However, on Marcus' first goal, he was unsure he actually scored. As a result, Marcus used the "Leap" on his next goal in Buffalo on March 14, 2012.

Foligno broke the family tradition and did not choose the numbers 17 (worn by his father) or 71 (worn by his brother). Upon being drafted by the Sabres, he elected to wear number 82 (assigned to him at camp), due to both 17 and 71 already being in use. Foligno was reassigned to the Americans immediately before the 2012–13 NHL lockout. However, this changed once he was traded to the Minnesota Wild, where he chose to wear the number 17.

On June 27, 2016, the Sabres issued a qualifying offer to Foligno. He was signed to a one-year contract on July 14, 2016. In the 2016–17 season, Foligno scored a career-best 13 goals in a checking-line role to match his 23 points from the previous season.

Minnesota Wild As a restricted free agent, on June 30, 2017, Foligno was traded along with Tyler Ennis and a 2018 third-round pick to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Marco Scandella, Jason Pominville and a 2018 fourth-round pick. On September 14, the Wild signed Foligno to a four-year, $11.5 million contract extension worth $2.875 million annually. Foligno was hospitalized on October 12, 2017, after taking a punch to the face from Chicago Blackhawks forward John Hayden during a fight in Minnesota's 5–2 win. According to The Athletic's Michael Russo, he may have suffered a "broken facial bone" as a result of the hit.

On January 12, 2021, Foligno signed a three-year, $9.3 million extension with the Wild.

On September 29, 2023, Foligno signed a four-year, $16 million extension with the Wild.

Foligno scored his first NHL hat-trick during a 6–3 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 19, 2026. At the end of the 2025–26 season, he received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in recognition of his charitable and humanitarian work. He was presented the trophy by his brother Nick, who earned it during the 2016–17 season.

International play

Approaching his final junior season in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves, Foligno was Invited to take part in Canada's 2011 national junior team selection camp for the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. Making a positive impression, he was later selected to Canada's roster for the tournament, held in his birthplace of Buffalo, New York. He completed the tournament with two goals and four points in seven games as Canada claimed the silver medal.

Personal life Foligno was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of former NHL player and Buffalo Sabre Mike Foligno and Janis Foligno. Janis died of breast cancer in July 2009. Although Marcus was born in the United States, both of his parents are Canadian, making him a dual citizen; Foligno played for Canada in the 2011 World Junior Championship. Marcus is the younger brother of Wild teammate Nick Foligno. He also has two sisters, Lisa Foligno-Carey (married to Dan Carey) and Cara Foligno. Foligno married Natascia Marcantognini on July 15, 2016 in Sudbury, ON. He is a passionate Christian.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2005–06 Sudbury Wolves AAA NOHA U15 31161531133 ————— 2006–07 Sudbury Nickel Capitals AAA GNML 3523174074 825740 2007–08 Sudbury Wolves OHL 66561138 ————— 2008–09 Sudbury Wolves OHL 6512183096 61239 2009–10 Sudbury Wolves OHL 67142539156 41236 2010–11 Sudbury Wolves OHL 4722365992 821324 2011–12 Rochester Americans AHL 6016233978 32134 2011–12 Buffalo Sabres NHL 1467139 ————— 2012–13 Rochester Americans AHL 3310172738 ————— 2012–13 Buffalo Sabres NHL 475131841 ————— 2013–14 Buffalo Sabres NHL 747121982 ————— 2014–15 Buffalo Sabres NHL 578122050 ————— 2015–16 Buffalo Sabres NHL 7510132379 ————— 2016–17 Buffalo Sabres NHL 8013102373 ————— 2017–18 Minnesota Wild NHL 778152372 510116 2018–19 Minnesota Wild NHL 827121955 ————— 2019–20 Minnesota Wild NHL 5911142530 40115 2020–21 Minnesota Wild NHL 3911152649 70220 2021–22 Minnesota Wild NHL 74231942112 602214 2022–23 Minnesota Wild NHL 657142197 610135 2023–24 Minnesota Wild NHL 5510122259 ————— 2024–25 Minnesota Wild NHL 7714152975 63146 2025–26 Minnesota Wild NHL 56851367 112138 NHL totals 931 148 188 336 950 45 7 7 14 84

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2011 Canada WJC 7 2 2 4 2 Junior totals 7 2 2 4 2

Awards and honours Award Year RefOHL CHL Top Prospects Game 2009 Second All-Star Team 2011 NHL Rookie of the Month March 2012 King Clancy Memorial Trophy 2026