Rick Nash

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Lore & Background

Rick Nash arrived in Columbus as the franchise's first-ever number-one overall draft pick, immediately shouldering the expectations of a new city. He quickly established himself as a dominant force, scoring 41 goals in his sophomore season to tie for the league lead and share the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk at 20 years old. His tenure was defined by resilience; despite injuries that sidelined him during the 2005–06 season, he returned to play a crucial role in leading the Blue Jackets to their first-ever playoff berth in 2009 as the eighth seed. Nash's leadership culminated when he replaced Adam Foote as the sixth captain on March 12, 2008. His impact extended beyond the ice, earning him the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2008–09 for his charitable work within the Columbus community. Though traded to the New York Rangers in 2012 after a dismal team start, his legacy remained untarnished as the standard-bearer for the franchise.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere shifted on January 17, 2008, when Nash delivered what commentators hailed as the "goal of the year." With the score tied against the Phoenix Coyotes in the final minute, Nash deked around two defenders and the goaltender to net the game-winner. This spectacular play earned him an ESPY Award nomination for Best Play. Moments like this defined his career, blending elite skill with clutch performance. In the 2008 All-Star Game, he showcased his speed by scoring the quickest goal in history at just 12 seconds into the match, eventually securing a hat-trick to end the game. Later that season, on March 7, 2009, Nash etched his name deeper into hockey lore against the Detroit Red Wings. He scored three unassisted goals in an 8–2 victory, a feat not seen since Maurice Richard accomplished it in 1948. These specific moments captured the essence of Nash's game: a blend of individual brilliance and historic significance that resonated deeply with fans.

Reader's Guide

Rick Nash's time with the Blue Jackets spanned from his debut on October 10, 2002, through the 2011–12 season. He made an immediate impact by scoring in his first game against the Chicago Blackhawks, becoming the eighth number-one overall pick to do so and the first since Mario Lemieux in 1984. His rookie campaign earned him a Calder Trophy nomination and a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team. Nash's physical dominance was matched by his offensive output; he recorded 66 points with the London Knights before turning pro, then consistently delivered high goal totals for Columbus. During the 2004–05 lockout, he honed his skills in Switzerland with HC Davos, winning the Swiss Championship and the Spengler Cup. Upon returning to the NHL, he signed a five-year contract in 2006 and later an eight-year extension worth $62.4 million in 2009. His departure came after trade speculation grew intense during the team's poor start to the 2011–12 season, culminating in a deal to the New York Rangers for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and draft picks.

Did You Know?

• Nash scored his first NHL goal on October 12, 2002, in his second game, becoming the eighth number-one overall pick to score in his first two games and the first since Mario Lemieux, though other number-one picks like Er
• At age 20, he tied for the league lead in goals with 41, sharing the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk, though he was not the youngest player ever to lead the NHL in goals (Wayne Gretz
• On March 7, 2009, Nash scored three unassisted goals against the Detroit Red Wings, a feat that had been accomplished by other players since Maurice Richard, including Peter Bondra.
• During the 2008 All-Star Game, he scored a goal 12 seconds into the match, though it was not the quickest in All-Star Game history (Owen Nolan scored in 9 seconds in 1997).
• Nash's number 61 was retired by the Columbus Blue Jackets franchise in 2022.

Franchise Icon and Statistical Legacy

Richard Nash is the Columbus Blue Jackets' all-time leader in goals, points, and games played. Drafted first overall in 2002, he was nominated for the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in his debut season (2002–03) and joined the NHL All-Rookie Team. In his second season, at age 19, he scored 41 goals to tie Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal-scorer, becoming the youngest player in history to lead the League in goals. He was named the team's fifth captain on March 12, 2008, replacing Adam Foote. Under his leadership, the Blue Jackets earned their first-ever playoff berth in 2009 as the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Nash received the NHL Foundation Player Award in the 2008–09 season for his charitable work in the Columbus community.

International Glory with Team Canada

Rick Nash represented Team Canada at multiple international tournaments. He competed at the 2002 World Junior Championships, helping the team win a silver medal. He also played for Canada at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014. Additionally, he earned one gold and two silver medals at the World Championships.

Defining Moments and Historic Plays

On October 10, 2002, Nash scored a goal in his NHL debut against the Chicago Blackhawks, becoming the eighth number-one overall pick to score in their first game. On January 17, 2008, he scored a game-winning goal against the Phoenix Coyotes in the final minute by deking around two defenders and the goaltender; this play was nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Play. In the 2008 All-Star Game, Nash scored the quickest goal in history at just 12 seconds and finished with a hat-trick. On March 7, 2009, he scored three unassisted goals against the Detroit Red Wings, a feat not seen since Maurice Richard in 1948.

Early Development and Professional Transition

Nash played two seasons with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), earning the Emms Family Award as Rookie of the Year in 2001. He recorded 66 points in his first OHL season and 72 points in 54 games during his second. Following his draft, he signed a lucrative rookie contract with Columbus valued at $1.2 million USD per season plus bonuses ranging from $8 to $12 million. During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Nash played for HC Davos in the Swiss Nationalliga A (NLA), scoring 26 goals and 46 points in 44 games. He helped Davos win the Swiss Championship and the 2004 Spengler Cup.