Editing Rick Nash (section)

==Playing career==
As a member of the [[London Knights]] for two seasons in the OHL, Rick Nash began his [[junior ice hockey#Major junior|major junior]] career with 66 points in his first year, receiving the [[Emms Family Award]] as the League's top rookie. The following season, he amassed 72 points in 54 games and was subsequently selected first overall in the [[2002 NHL Entry Draft]] by the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]].{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

===Columbus Blue Jackets (2002–2012)===
The first NHL contract for Nash was negotiated minutes before the signing deadline by [[Gord Kirke]]. It was the most lucrative contract for an NHL rookie at the time, valued at 1.2 million [[United States dollar|USD]] per season plus bonuses and incentives which ranged from 8 to US$12 million.<ref name="Livesey">{{cite web|url=https://www.canadianlawyermag.com/article/the-champs-champion-8/|title=The champs' champion|last=Livesey|first=Bruce|date=2006-01-25|website=Canadian Lawyer Magazine|access-date=2019-05-02}}</ref>

Joining the Blue Jackets in [[2002–03 NHL season|2002–03]], Nash debuted on October 10, 2002, and scored a goal in a 2–1 win over the [[Chicago Blackhawks]]. He was the eighth [[List of NHL first overall draft choices|number one overall pick]] to score a goal in his first game and the first to do so in his draft year since [[Mario Lemieux]] in [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]].<ref name="cbjcontract">[http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=303186&page=NewsPage&service=page Columbus Blue Jackets – BLUE JACKETS RE-SIGN ALL-STAR RICK NASH TO FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT] Columbus Blue Jackets</ref> That season, Nash was nominated for the [[Calder Memorial Trophy|Calder Trophy]] as the NHL's top rookie, but lost to defenseman [[Barret Jackman]] of the [[St. Louis Blues]]. He would, however, join Jackman on the [[NHL All-Rookie Team]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHL All-Rookie Teams |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/awards/nhl_all_rookie.html |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=Hockey-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In Nash's sophomore campaign, he improved his rookie goal total from 17 to 41, a career-high that tied [[Jarome Iginla]] and [[Ilya Kovalchuk]] for the [[Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy]] for most goals in the League. At 19 years of age, Nash was the youngest player in history to lead the League in goals.<ref name="cbjcontract" /> Recording 16 assists, Nash finished the year with 57 points.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

During the [[2004–05 NHL lockout]], Nash played for [[HC Davos]] of the [[Switzerland|Swiss]] [[National League A|Nationalliga A]] (NLA). He scored 26 goals and 46 points in 44 games and added 11 more points (nine goals and two assists) in 15 games in the NLA playoffs. Joined by fellow NHL-er [[Joe Thornton]], Davos went on to win the Swiss Championship, as well as the 2004 [[Spengler Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://www.spenglercup.ch/en/tournament/history |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=Spengler Cup Davos |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Rick Nash.jpg|thumb|left|Nash with the [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] during the December 2006]]
With the NHL set to resume play in [[2005–06 NHL season|2005–06]], the Blue Jackets re-signed Nash to a five-year, $27 million contract. The deal saw his annual salary increase each year, with $3.5 million the first season and $7 million in the last season of the contract for a $5.4 million average salary.<ref>{{cite news|title=Blue Jackets lock up Rick Nash|url=https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.558658|access-date=July 26, 2009|date=August 8, 2005|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]}}</ref> Knee and ankle injuries, however, sidelined Nash for much of the first half of the season. Missing 28 games total, Nash was still named to [[Canada men's national ice hockey team|Team Canada]] for the [[Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Men's tournament|2006 Olympics]], shortly after being activated from the [[injured reserve]]. Upon returning from a disappointing seventh-place finish in [[Turin]], Nash completed the season at a point-per-game pace with 54 points in 54 games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rick Nash Stats |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/n/nashri01.html |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=Hockey-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

In [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–07]], Nash matched his sophomore points total with 57, and was named to the [[Western Conference (NHL)|Western Conference]] [[55th National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Team]] for the second time in his career. He was Columbus' lone representative both times. Nash scored the game-winning goal in the West win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NHL On-line ReportViewer |url=http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreports/20062007/GS040055.HTM |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=www.nhl.com}}</ref>

The following season, on January 17, 2008, Nash scored what many commentators called the "goal of the year"<ref>Kevin Allen.  ''[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2008-01-27-nash-goal_N.htm Nash's picture-perfect goal is snapshot of talent]''. [[USA Today]].</ref> in the final minute versus the [[Arizona Coyotes|Phoenix Coyotes]]. Breaking a tied score, Nash deked around two defenders and the goaltender to score the eventual game-winner. Later, at the end of the season, the goal was nominated for an [[ESPY Award]] in the category of [[Best Play ESPY Award|Best Play]].<ref name="espy">[http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=367593&page=NewsPage&service=page Columbus Blue Jackets – News: Nash Nominated for ESPY Award – 07/02/2008] Columbus Blue Jackets</ref> Selected to his third [[56th National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Game in 2008]] that season, Nash scored the quickest goal in All-Star Game history, just 12 seconds in and ended the game with a [[Hat-trick#Hockey|hat-trick]].<ref>[http://www.dispatch.com/live/foundation/slideshow.jsp?file=/sports/photo_galleries/2008/nash/Nash_trick.html&image=3&adsec=sports&tot=7 ''Nash Trick'']{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}.  [[The Columbus Dispatch]].</ref>

Completing the season with 38 goals and 69 points, Nash nearly matched his personal best goals total and set a career high for points and assists. Shortly before the end of the season, on March 12, 2008, Nash was also named the fifth captain in Blue Jackets history, replacing the recently traded [[Adam Foote]].<ref name="Captain">{{cite web|url=http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=356643 |title=Rick Nash Named Columbus Blue Jackets Team Captain |access-date=March 12, 2008 |publisher=Columbus Blue Jackets |year=2008 |author=Columbus Blue Jackets |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313194037/http://bluejackets.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=356643 |archive-date=March 13, 2008 }}</ref>

In the off-season, in May 2008, Nash was named the cover athlete and spokesman for the ''[[NHL 2K9]]'' video game.<ref>[http://www.operationsports.com/newspost.php?id=249422 NHL 2K9 Cover Athlete Announcement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517080934/http://www.operationsports.com/newspost.php?id=249422 |date=May 17, 2008 }} Operation Sports</ref> Going into the [[2008–09 NHL season|2008–09 campaign]], the Blue Jackets had gone without a playoff appearance in franchise history. Led by the newly appointed captain Nash and bolstered by rookie goaltender [[Steve Mason (ice hockey)|Steve Mason]], the Blue Jackets finished the season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference to earn a post-season berth against division-rival the [[Detroit Red Wings]]. The series was preceded by an 8–2 rout over the Red Wings on March 7, 2009, a game in which Nash scored three unassisted goals.<ref>[http://blog.dispatch.com/cbj/2009/03/game_no_66.shtml Game No. 66] ''[[The Columbus Dispatch]]''.</ref> According to the ''[[Columbus Dispatch]]'', citing the [[Elias Sports Bureau]], the last player to score three goals unassisted was [[Maurice Richard]] (who scored four) against the [[New York Rangers]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] on March 14, 1948.  Despite the convincing victory late in the season, the Blue Jackets were swept by the Red Wings in four games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2009 NHL Western Conference Quarter-Finals: CBJ vs. DET |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/playoffs/2009-columbus-blue-jackets-vs-detroit-red-wings-western-conference-quarter-finals.html |access-date=2022-05-21 |website=Hockey-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Ryan Kesler and Rick Nash.jpg|thumb|right|Nash (left) battling with [[Ryan Kesler]] for puck possession in November 2011]] 
In addition to leading the Blue Jackets to the playoffs, Nash had a career season with 79 points, in addition to scoring 40 goals for the first time since [[2003–04 NHL season|2003–04]]. In the off-season, on July 3, 2009, Nash signed an eight-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets worth $62.4 million set to take effect in [[2010–11 NHL season|2010–11]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Nash inks 8-year deal with Blue Jackets.|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nash-inks-8-year-deal-with-blue-jackets-1.821929|access-date=July 26, 2009|date=July 3, 2009|publisher=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]}}</ref>

As the [[2011–12 NHL season|2011–12 season]] began to unfold, Columbus recorded a dismal 2–12–1 record, the worst start to an NHL season by any team in 19 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/stories/2011/11/12/jackets-skybox1112-art-g0ueru8d-1.html|title=Worst start in 19 years|date=2011-11-12|access-date=2011-12-05|publisher=[[Columbus Dispatch]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114062754/http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/stories/2011/11/12/jackets-skybox1112-art-g0ueru8d-1.html|archive-date=November 14, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> With the team struggling, rumors began circulating that the Blue Jackets were contemplating trading Nash as a solution to their on-ice woes. While Blue Jackets General Manager [[Scott Howson]] stated publicly that he had had no discussions regarding a Nash deal, other teams had indeed inquired about his availability.<ref name=traderum>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/43092-Rumor-Roundup-Rick-Nash-tops-many-teams-wish-lists.html|title=Rumor Roundup: Rick Nash tops many teams' wish lists|date=2011-11-21|access-date=2012-01-08|publisher=[[The Hockey News]]|last=Richardson |first=Lyle}}</ref> When asked about it, Nash stated that if the franchise felt it could improve itself by dealing him, he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to get the deal done.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/05/rick-nash-would-waive-his-no-trade-clause-if-blue-jackets-wanted-to-move-him/|title=Rick Nash would waive his no-trade clause if Blue Jackets wanted to move him|date=2012-01-05|access-date=2012-01-08|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|last=Yerdon|first=Joe}}</ref> Though Howson had previously maintained that he had no intention of trading Nash, two weeks before the trade deadline, he stated in the press that the team was open to all options and they were willing to listen to trade proposals for Nash, despite not actively shopping him. Speculation was that in return for Nash the Blue Jackets would ask for a top six forward, a top prospect and a first-round draft pick.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/stories/2012/2/15/move-to-trade-captain-signals-a-major-rebuild.html|title=Now up for bidding: Nash|date=2012-02-15|access-date=2012-02-15|publisher=[[Columbus Dispatch]]|last=Portzline|first=Aaron|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216155510/http://www.bluejacketsxtra.com/content/stories/2012/2/15/move-to-trade-captain-signals-a-major-rebuild.html|archive-date=February 16, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2012/02/14/leafs-nash-would-seem-a-perfect-fit|title=Nash to Leafs? Dream on: Price for Jackets forward sky high|date=2012-02-14|access-date=2012-02-15|publisher= [[The Toronto Sun]]|last=Zeisberger |first=Mike}}</ref>

Trade speculation continued on into the summer with no deal imminent. While Howson claimed he merely wanted to receive "market value" in any deal for Nash, there was speculation that his asking price was too high for many rival NHL GMs to consider.<ref>NHL notes: No one's dashing to get Nash {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130115070827/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/2012/07/06/19960131.html]}}</ref> Columbus eventually found a trade partner in the New York Rangers. Nash, along with [[Steven Delisle]] and a conditional third-round pick in the [[2013 NHL Entry Draft]], were traded to the Rangers for [[Artem Anisimov]], [[Brandon Dubinsky]], [[Tim Erixon]] and a 2013 first-round draft pick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=401276|title=Blue Jackets Ship Nash to Rangers in Blockbuster trade|date=2012-07-23|access-date=2012-07-23|publisher= [[The Sporting News|TSN]]}}</ref>

===New York Rangers (2012–2018)===
Nash signed a contract to play with [[HC Davos]] again during the [[2012–13 NHL lockout]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1339146-rick-nash-bolts-for-hc-davos-of-swiss-national-league|title=Rick Nash Bolts for HC Davos of Swiss National League|date=2012-09-18|access-date=2012-09-19|publisher= Bleacher Report}}</ref> In late September 2012, while playing for Davos, Nash injured his shoulder and left the game.
[[File:Rick Nash Rangers.jpg|thumb|left|Nash with the [[New York Rangers]] in March 2013.]]
Nash had a successful first regular season with the Rangers, scoring 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 44 games played in the lockout-shortened [[2012–13 NHL season|2012–13 season]]. However, in the [[2013 Stanley Cup playoffs|playoffs]], Nash underwhelmed with only one goal and four assists in 12 playoff games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/player/_/id/1569/rick-nash|title=Rick Nash|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Nash opened the [[2013–14 NHL season|2013–14 season]] well, with three assists in two games. But on October 8, 2013, in a game against the [[San Jose Sharks]], Nash suffered a concussion from a hit by [[Brad Stuart]], which forced him to miss 17 games.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rick Nash back in Rangers' lineup |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/rick-nash-back-in-rangers-lineup-1.2432294 |website=CBC.ca |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=November 19, 2013}}</ref> On November 21, Nash scored his first goal of the season in a 3–2 win against the [[Dallas Stars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8470041|title=Rick Nash Stats and News|website=NHL.com}}</ref> He would finish the season with a solid goal total of 26 in 65 games, but with only 13 assists, his 39 points tied a career low. Nash struggled mightily in the playoffs for the second straight year, scoring only three goals in 25 playoff games. Despite his low offensive production, however, he was solid defensively throughout, and the Rangers reached the [[2014 Stanley Cup Finals|Stanley Cup Finals]], ultimately losing in five games to the [[Los Angeles Kings]] in a series in which all the games were close decisions.<ref>{{cite web |title=L.A. Kings win 2014 Stanley Cup |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/l-a-kings-win-2014-stanley-cup/ |website=CBS News |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=June 13, 2014}}</ref>

Nash had a superstar season in 2014–15 scoring a career-high 42 goals (third in the NHL behind [[Steven Stamkos]] with 43 and [[Alexander Ovechkin]] with 53) and 27 assists. Nash's production also improved during the 2015 playoffs, as he scored five goals and nine assists (14 points) in 19 games as the Rangers fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a hard-fought seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rohan |first1=Tim |title=Rangers Are Shut Out in Game 7 as Lightning Reach Finals |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/30/sports/hockey/rangers-are-eliminated-as-tampa-bay-wins-game-7.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=May 29, 2015}}</ref>

Nash's performance declined at the start of the 2015–16 season as he struggled to recapture his scoring pace from the previous season. This was further exacerbated by muscle spasms that caused Nash to miss 22 games. Despite being involved in trade rumors, few teams seemed to be interested in Rick Nash and his $7.9 million cap hit. Nash scored a career-low 15 goals, going with 21 assists for a career-low 36 points. He then recorded two goals and two assists in New York's five-game opening round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the [[2016 Stanley Cup playoffs]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Adamski |first1=Chris |title=Penguins Eliminate Nemesis Rangers in Game 5 Rout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/sports/hockey/penguins-eliminate-rangers-in-game-5-rout.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=April 23, 2016}}</ref>

On October 11, 2016 Nash was named an alternate captain for the New York Rangers, joining [[Daniel Girardi]], [[Marc Staal]], and [[Derek Stepan]] along with captain [[Ryan McDonagh]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rieber|first1=Anthony|title=Rick Nash named alternate captain for Rangers|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/rangers/rick-nash-named-alternate-captain-for-rangers-1.12439821|website=newsday.com|access-date=April 16, 2018|date=October 11, 2016}}</ref> On November 8, 2016, Nash scored his 400th goal in a 5–3 loss against the [[Vancouver Canucks]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Rick Nash scores 400th NHL goal|url=https://www.nhl.com/news/rangers-rick-nash-scores-400th-career-nhl-goal/c-283544178|website=NHL.com|access-date=November 9, 2016|date=November 9, 2016}}</ref> Nash again missed several games during the 2016–17 season, this time with a nagging groin injury. He still managed to score 23 goals and 15 assists for 38 points, in 67 games. Nash's production continued to improve during the [[2017 Stanley Cup playoffs]]. He recorded two goals and one assist in the Rangers six-game opening-round victory over the [[Montreal Canadiens]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Compton |first1=Brian |title=Rangers eliminate Canadiens with Game 6 win |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/montreal-canadiens-new-york-rangers-game-6-recap/c-289033544 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=April 22, 2017}}</ref>

On October 26, 2017, Nash skated in his 1,000th NHL career game, which resulted in a 5–2 win over the Arizona Coyotes. He became the 312th player in NHL history to play at least 1,000 career games.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hartnett |first1=Sean |title=Hartnett: Days Before Halloween, Rangers Get Much-Needed Boost From Boo |url=https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/10/27/rangers-cristoval-nieves-3-assists-vs-coyotes/ |website=CBS New York |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=October 27, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosen |first1=Dan |title=Nash of Rangers set to play 1,000th NHL game |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/rangers-nash-set-to-play-in-1000th-nhl-game/c-292212820 |website=NHL.com |access-date=January 31, 2022 |date=October 24, 2017}}</ref>

===Boston Bruins (2018)===
During the [[2017–18 NHL season|2017–18 season]], the Rangers struggled relative to their results from past seasons. On February 8, 2018, the team released a letter to fans that signaled intentions to begin a rebuild, to which rumors of a Nash trade began to swirl, as he was in the last year of his contract.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/a-message-from-glen-sather-and-jeff-gorton-about-our-team/c-295742648|title=A Message from Glen Sather and Jeff Gorton About Our Team|work=NHL|date=2018-02-08|access-date=2018-02-25|language=en-US}}</ref> On February 25, 2018, one day before the trade deadline, Nash was traded to the [[Boston Bruins]] in exchange for [[Ryan Spooner]], [[Matt Beleskey]], prospect [[Ryan Lindgren]], a [[2018 NHL Entry Draft|2018]] first-round pick (which became [[Jacob Bernard-Docker]]), and a [[2019 NHL Entry Draft|2019]] seventh-round pick (which became [[Massimo Rizzo (ice hockey)|Massimo Rizzo]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruins Acquire Rick Nash From Rangers|url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-acquire-rick-nash-from-rangers/c-296345448|website=NHL.com|access-date=February 25, 2018|date=February 25, 2018}}</ref> Rick Nash's first goal as a Bruin, and his 800th career point, came on February 27, 2018, in a 4–3 overtime Bruins home ice win over the [[Carolina Hurricanes]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/newcomers-make-quite-the-first-impression/c-296449008 |title=Newcomers Make Quite the First Impression |last=Russo |first=Eric |date=February 28, 2018 |website=nhl.com/bruins |publisher=National Hockey League |access-date=February 28, 2018 |quote=Like Wingels, Rick Nash did his part in his first game at TD Garden. After a strong debut in Buffalo - during which Nash fired five shots on goal and clanked another opportunity off the post - the former first overall pick finally cashed in midway through the first...DeBrusk forced Justin Faulk to lose control of the puck along the boards, freeing it up for David Krejci at the blue liner. Krejci then threaded a pass to '''a wide-open Nash, who fired one by Darling to knot the game at 1 and collect his 800th career point.'''}}</ref> Nash would go on to play 23 games for the Bruins, and suffered a concussion in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, after a hit from [[Cedric Paquette]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-bruins/2019/01/11/bruins-nhl-rick-nash-retires-concussions/ | title=Rick Nash retires due to concussions }}</ref>

On January 11, 2019, at age 34, due to unresolved symptoms from a concussion sustained in March 2018, Nash was forced to retire from professional hockey after playing 1,060 career games spanning over 15 seasons.<ref name="retired">{{cite web |last1=Beneteau |first1=Josh |title=Rick Nash announces retirement after 15 NHL seasons |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/rick-nash-announces-retirement-16-nhl-seasons/ |website=Sportsnet |access-date=11 January 2019 |date=11 January 2019}}</ref>