Rick Nash facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rick Nash
Nash with the Columbus Blue Jackets in October 2011
Born	(1984-06-16) June 16, 1984 (age 41) Brampton, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight	219 lb (99 kg; 15 st 9 lb)
Position	Left wing
Shot	Left
Played for	Columbus Blue Jackets HC Davos New York Rangers Boston Bruins
National team	Canada
NHL Draft	1st overall, 2002 Columbus Blue Jackets
Playing career	2002–2018

Rick Nash (born June 16, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He now works as the director of player development for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Rick was chosen as the very first player in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played 15 seasons in the NHL for the Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, and Boston Bruins. He was picked to play in six National Hockey League All-Star Games.

Before joining the pros, Nash was a top player for the London Knights in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He spent two seasons there and won the Emms Family Award in 2001 as the league's best rookie. He started his NHL career right after being drafted in the 2002–03 season. He was even nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie.

In his second NHL season, Nash scored 41 goals. This tied him with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, given to the NHL's top goal-scorer. Nash was an NHL All-Star five times. He also received the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2009 for his amazing charity work in Columbus. He holds the Blue Jackets' team records for most goals, points, and games played. Many people think he is the best Blue Jackets player ever. In 2022, his jersey number, 61, was retired by the team.

Rick Nash also played for Team Canada in international games. He won one gold and two silver medals at the World Ice Hockey Championships. He also won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in 2010 and 2014. He also played for Canada at the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, helping the team win a silver medal. He also played in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Early Life and Junior Hockey

Rick Nash grew up in Brampton, Ontario. He went to Brampton Centennial Secondary School. He played minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL). Scouts from the OHL noticed him in 1999. He also played in the 1998 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. He played for the Toronto Marlboros minor ice hockey team.

As a member of the London Knights in the OHL, Rick Nash had a great start. In his first year, he scored 66 points. He won the Emms Family Award as the league's best rookie. The next season, he got 72 points in 54 games. After that, the Columbus Blue Jackets picked him first overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing in the NHL

Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–2012)

Rick Nash's first NHL contract was a big one for a rookie. It was worth $1.2 million per season. He also had bonuses that could add up to $8 to $12 million.

Nash joined the Blue Jackets in the 2002–03 season. He played his first game on October 10, 2002. He scored a goal in a 2–1 win against the Chicago Blackhawks. He was the eighth player picked first overall to score in his first game. He was also the first to do it in his draft year since Mario Lemieux in 1984. That season, Nash was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's best rookie. He also made the NHL All-Rookie Team.

In his second year, Nash scored 41 goals. This was a career high for him. He tied with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. This award is for the player who scores the most goals in the league. At 19 years old, Nash was the youngest player ever to lead the league in goals. He also had 16 assists, finishing the year with 57 points.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Nash played for HC Davos in the Swiss National League A (NLA). He scored 26 goals and 46 points in 44 games. He added 11 more points in 15 playoff games. With fellow NHL player Joe Thornton, Davos won the Swiss Championship. They also won the 2004 Spengler Cup.

Nash with the Columbus Blue Jackets in December 2006

When the NHL started playing again in 2005–06, the Blue Jackets signed Nash to a new contract. It was for five years and $27 million. Injuries to his knee and ankle kept Nash out for much of the first half of that season. He missed 28 games in total. Still, he was chosen for Team Canada for the 2006 Olympics. After returning from the Olympics, Nash finished the season with 54 points in 54 games.

In 2006–07, Nash matched his 57 points from his second season. He was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team for the second time. He was the only player from Columbus chosen both times. Nash scored the winning goal in the West's victory.

The next season, on January 17, 2008, Nash scored an amazing goal against the Phoenix Coyotes. It was called the "goal of the year" by many. Nash deked around two defenders and the goalie to score the winning goal. This goal was later nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Play. He was also picked for his third All-Star Game in 2008. Nash scored the fastest goal in All-Star Game history, just 12 seconds into the game. He ended the game with a hat-trick.

Nash finished that season with 38 goals and 69 points. This was a career high for points and assists. On March 12, 2008, Nash was named the fifth captain in Blue Jackets history. He took over from Adam Foote.

In May 2008, Nash was chosen to be on the cover of the NHL 2K9 video game. Before the 2008–09 season, the Blue Jackets had never made the playoffs. With Nash as captain and rookie goalie Steve Mason, the Blue Jackets made the playoffs. They finished seventh in the Western Conference. They played against their division rival, the Detroit Red Wings. The Blue Jackets had beaten the Red Wings 8–2 earlier that season. Nash scored three unassisted goals in that game. Despite that big win, the Red Jackets lost to the Red Wings in four games in the playoffs.

Nash (left) battling with Ryan Kesler for the puck in November 2011

Nash had a career-best season with 79 points. He also scored 40 goals for the first time since 2003–04. On July 3, 2009, Nash signed a big eight-year contract extension. It was worth $62.4 million and started in the 2010–11 season.

The 2011–12 season started very badly for Columbus. They had a 2–12–1 record, which was the worst start for any NHL team in 19 years. Because the team was struggling, rumors started that the Blue Jackets might trade Nash. Nash said he would be willing to be traded if it helped the team. The Blue Jackets eventually traded Nash to the New York Rangers. Nash, along with Steven Delisle and a draft pick, went to the Rangers. In return, Columbus got Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and a first-round draft pick.

New York Rangers (2012–2018)

Nash signed a contract to play with HC Davos again during the 2012–13 NHL lockout. In September 2012, while playing for Davos, Nash hurt his shoulder.

Nash had a good first season with the Rangers. He scored 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 44 games. This was during the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season. However, in the playoffs, Nash only scored one goal and four assists in 12 games.

Nash with the New York Rangers in March 2013.

Nash started the 2013–14 season well, with three assists in two games. But on October 8, 2013, he got a concussion in a game against the San Jose Sharks. This made him miss 17 games. On November 21, Nash scored his first goal of the season. He finished the season with 26 goals in 65 games. He struggled in the playoffs again, scoring only three goals in 25 games. Even with low scoring, he played well defensively. The Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals. They lost in five close games to the Los Angeles Kings.

Nash had a fantastic season in 2014–15. He scored a career-high 42 goals. This was third in the NHL. He also had 27 assists. Nash's scoring improved in the 2015 playoffs. He scored five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 19 games. The Rangers lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a tough seven-game series.

Nash's performance went down at the start of the 2015–16 season. He had trouble scoring like he did the year before. He also missed 22 games because of muscle spasms. Nash scored a career-low 15 goals and 21 assists for 36 points. He then had two goals and two assists in the playoffs. The Rangers lost in five games to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On October 11, 2016, Nash was named an alternate captain for the New York Rangers. On November 8, 2016, Nash scored his 400th career goal. Nash missed more games in the 2016–17 season due to a groin injury. He still managed to score 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points in 67 games. Nash's scoring continued to get better in the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. He scored two goals and one assist in the Rangers' first-round win over the Montreal Canadiens.

On October 26, 2017, Nash played in his 1,000th NHL career game. He became the 312th player in NHL history to play at least 1,000 games.

Boston Bruins (2018)

During the 2017–18 season, the Rangers were not doing as well as before. On February 8, 2018, the team announced they would start rebuilding. This led to rumors that Nash might be traded, as he was in the last year of his contract. On February 25, 2018, Nash was traded to the Boston Bruins. The Bruins gave up Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, a young player named Ryan Lindgren, and two draft picks.

Rick Nash's first goal as a Bruin came on February 27, 2018. It was also his 800th career point. He played 23 games for the Bruins. He got a concussion in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On January 11, 2019, at age 34, Rick Nash had to retire from hockey. He still had symptoms from the concussion he got in March 2018. He played 1,060 career games over 15 seasons.

International Play

Rick Nash with a gold medal during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Winter Games
Gold	2010 Vancouver
Gold	2014 Sochi
World Championships
Gold	2007 Russia
Silver	2005 Austria
Silver	2008 Canada
World Junior Championships
Silver	2002 Czech Republic

In his second junior season, Nash was chosen to play for Team Canada's junior team. This was at the 2002 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He scored three points and helped the team win a silver medal.

Rick Nash (#61, center) celebrates a goal against the United States during the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Nash made his first appearance for the senior Team Canada at the 2005 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. He led the tournament in goals and earned his second silver medal.

In 2006, after coming back from an injury, he was picked for Team Canada's Olympic team. However, he only got one point in a disappointing seventh-place finish.

The next year, Nash won his first gold medal with Team Canada. This was at the 2007 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships in Moscow. Canada beat Finland 4–2. Nash scored two goals in the gold medal game and 11 points overall. He was named to the tournament All-Star Team and won the MVP award.

Nash played in his third World Championship in 2008. But Canada did not win gold again, earning silver instead. In the championship game against Russia, Nash accidentally shot the puck over the glass in overtime. This led to a penalty. Russia scored on the powerplay and won 5–4. Despite this, Nash was named to the tournament All-Star Team for the second year in a row. He finished with 13 points.

On December 30, 2009, Nash was chosen to play for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Nash earned his first Olympic medal as Team Canada won gold.

Nash was named captain of Team Canada for the 2011 IIHF World Championship. Canada finished fifth in that tournament.

Rick Nash won his second gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Career Statistics

Regular Season and Playoffs

International Play Statistics

Awards and Honors

OHL

• OHL All-Rookie Team – 2001
• Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year) – 2001

CHL

• CHL All-Rookie Team – 2001

NHL

• NHL All-Rookie Team – 2003
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy – 2004 (shared with Ilya Kovalchuk and Jarome Iginla)
• NHL All-Star Game appearance – 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015
• NHL Foundation Player Award – 2009
• Number 61 retired by the Columbus Blue Jackets - 2022
• NHL 2K cover athlete - 2009

NLA

• Best Swiss League Forward – 2004–05

International

• World Championships gold medal – 2007
• World Championships MVP – 2007
• World Championships All-Star Team – 2007, 2008
• Gold medal – 2010 Winter Olympic Games
• Gold medal – 2014 Winter Olympic Games

Other

• Best Play ESPY Award nomination – 2008

See also

• List of Columbus Blue Jackets players
• List of NHL players with 1,000 games played