Chicago Blackhawks captain Nick Foligno is never afraid to be blunt, and with a bad hockey team, sometimes that’s a necessity. Once again, the Blackhawks are a hopeless bunch, with just 51 points and a 21-41-9 record to show for it.

While everyone expected growth, the Hawks, at best, stagnated. Even if they will theoretically pass their dismal 52-point total from last season. While teams with 51 points after 71 games have more than a few issues, Foligno once again pointed to one issue that may have since evaporated.

In a piece from Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times, Foligno made yet another statement that could’ve pointed to a former player. And a vocal former player at that.

When talking about ways to keep this team motivated, Foligno said, ‘‘That’s where you separate yourself as a guy who really cares or a guy that’s just [motivated] when it’s convenient, right? We’re weeding out some of those things in here. We need guys who want to be a part of this. It’s not easy. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s hard. It’s an emotional roller coaster a lot of days. But we’re hoping we can start to solidify ourselves.’’

Nick Foligno is once again correct on many fronts about this

I don’t know how many of you have played or followed high school sports, but it’s a place I can relate to in this situation. Not in hockey, but in football, in which my school’s team finished a whopping 4-26 between 2004 and 2006.

Clearly, it took a special group of athletes to navigate that mess. I even remember watching them and thinking to myself, “Why is anyone even out there on the field?” But, when you fast forward to what the Hawks are going through, it’s something I’ve thought regarding many of these veterans: Why would anyone want to play for this team?

In both cases, Foligno was correct when he said “It’s not for the faint of heart.” No, it takes a special group of people to be willing to navigate what has become one of the least-desirable franchises for anyone in their prime to suit up for in recent years.

And for some players, it’s too much. And once again, it leads me to believe whether Seth Jones was the subject of Foligno’s quip. Foligno said something earlier this month that could’ve easily referenced Jones, and if he’s doing it again here, it again makes us wonder just to what extent Jones was going.

Removing Jones from the situation hasn’t made the Blackhawks any better on the ice

With Jones no longer in town and likely en route to a deep playoff run with the Florida Panthers, one also has to ask whether the Hawks have gotten any better with him out of the equation. The short answer is no, that hasn’t been the case, as they’re coming off of a seven-game losing streak.

But just because the Hawks haven’t given us a better product on the ice doesn’t mean the team hasn’t improved elsewhere. Players like Nick Foligno are around this team during their practices, in the locker room, and even outside of the arena. And as the captain, he would have far greater insights than those of us on the outside and looking in.

That said, if Foligno was once again talking about Jones and the Hawks having become a more focused group despite the constant losing, then Jones was someone who may have needed to go even earlier in the year. Chemistry can brew on the ice later, so if the Hawks are more clear-headed without Jones as a team, then once again, it’s time to applaud Nick Foligno for speaking his mind.