Give Bruins winger Nick Foligno what he wants and nobody gets hurt.

At least that’s how it sounds based on what Foligno had to say following Saturday’s practice session at Warrior Ice Arena, as Foligno essentially declared himself ready for Monday’s Game 1 against the Panthers.

“I think I’ve made all the threats I need to make to everybody,” a smiling Foligno said when asked if there was anything that could or would keep him out of Game 1. “So hopefully that did the trick and I’ll be back for Game 1.”

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  Feb 14, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Nick Foligno (17) waits for the face-off in the Dallas Stars zone during the third period at the American Airlines Center. (Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports)

• Out of action since a hit from the Flames’ Nikita Zadorov left him laboring off the ice in a Feb. 28 win in Calgary, the veteran Foligno has spent his recent weeks ramping up his on-ice work both on his own and with the training staff, and has rejoined his teammates for regular practice (and in a regular sweater) in recent days.

  That’s always a positive sign. Especially when it comes without a setback on the old ‘box-checking’ front.

  And Saturday was the best sign yet, with Foligno a full participant in the on-ice session, and in action for the scrimmage portion of what Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery called an ‘intense’ practice.

  “I thought Foligno looked really good,” Montgomery remarked.

  “I feel great,” Foligno, who was on crutches and with a heavy-looking brace on his knee about a month ago, offered. “Physically and mentally, just [feeling] really good and [I] used the time wisely that I had unfortunately been given to reset in a lot of ways and be ready for this.”

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  Feb 16, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Boston Bruins left wing Nick Foligno (17) waits for a face off during the first period against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. (Christopher Hanewinckel/USA TODAY Sports)

• A patient approach is what was required, and it was arguably what Foligno wanted.

  Even if it went against his nature as a competitor.

  Holding court with the media at this stall last weekend, Foligno admitted to me that it was important for him to return at close to 100 percent to make sure that he was not exiting the lineup just as quickly as he returned, and that he’d be back with the B’s for the long haul of what they hope is a long playoff run to Lord Stanley.

  That approach remained on his mind a week later.

  “This is my favorite time of year. I try not to be that old vet, but 16 years in, I think you just want to get through 82 [games] to get to this point,” Foligno admitted. “I think we’ve done a great job of putting ourselves in a great position.

  “Now it’s back to zero and an opportunity for us to really go chase this and make this year as special as we feel it is.”

• Nick Foligno went full Bobby Orr on this goal: pic.twitter.com/MvQXM7v8Os

  — Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) November 22, 2022

• One of the best stories on a team and in a season that’s full of them, Foligno, who is Boston’s nominee for the 2023 Masterton Trophy, bounced back with 10 goals and 26 points in 60 games. It was his best goal output since the 2019-20 season, and a healthy finish would’ve almost certainly seen him post his best point totals since 2018-19.

  Foligno’s most notable assist to the Bruins was one that didn’t even hit the scoresheet, though, as Foligno asked Montgomery if he could have the room during the second intermission of the team’s 2023 Winter Classic showdown with the Penguins at Fenway Park. With the floor his, Foligno delivered an impassioned speech to his teammates, and the Bruins rallied for two goals in the third period to complete a comeback win over Pittsburgh.

  It’s a major reason why the Bruins, who have gotten strong contributions from other members of the roster throughout Foligno’s absence, simply can’t wait to put him back in their lineup as soon as he’s ready.

  “There is that luxury, but Nick Foligno is a huge part of our team and a huge part of the bench and leadership,” Montgomery told me last week when I asked about potentially sitting Foligno out until they’re absolutely sure that he’s 100 percent ready to go. “I do think that while he was initially away, we missed him.

  “I think others have stepped up, but you can’t replicate someone who naturally is as unselfish as he is and has the ability to lift others up. Like he notices when a guy is down, he’s got a lot of  [Patrice] Bergeron in him in that way.”

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  Feb 25, 2023; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Boston Bruins forward Nick Foligno (17) looks upwards for the puck during the second period against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena. (Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports)

• With that in mind — and ‘threats’ aside — the 35-year-old Foligno knows what’s going to be expected of him upon his return to the lineup, be it Monday or Wednesday or whenever the green light comes his way.

  “Like I talked about [before], but when I come back, I’m not promising anything, but just being the best version of myself for this club,” Foligno said of his goal upon re-entry. “I think that’s what we’ve always asked of every guy coming back from injury. And I feel like this time has really given me that opportunity and I’m looking forward to being back with the guys.”

  Just good luck to anybody who tries telling him he’s not ready to do exactly that.

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