It has been a very slow start to the season for New York Rangers‘ Rick Nash. Through 10 games he has had a lot of trouble finding the net. The only goal he has recorded so far was hilariously given to him after he was hooked on a breakaway, skating the puck towards an empty net in the game against the Arizona Coyotes.
By this time last year, Nash had eight goals in his first 10 games. So is there still time for Nash to beat last year’s numbers?
Absolutely, and even his teammates think so.
Chris Kreider spoke to The Post on Monday night after the Rangers beat the San Jose Sharks in a 4-0 win. He said: “When Rick’s going, everyone is going. When he’s out there crushing people, it’s easy.”
In the 2014-15 season, Rick Nash was a regular season machine, scoring 42 goals and gathering 27 assists in 79 games. As well as scoring six power play goals, four shorthanded goals, and a total of eight game-winning goals. It was almost a formality that Nash would score whenever he was out there on the ice.
Although it’s early days, Nash is yet to emulate last year’s form as of yet, and it is in his best interests to start finding the net more.
Even though Nash doesn’t have as many goals as this time last year, it’s clear that he is using his body more already, and his presence on the ice is definitely more obvious now than it was last year. This is something that isn’t looked at too much, but it is a huge factor for the Rangers. Nash is a 6’4″, 220-pound monster. If he can crash the net in the same way that Kreider does, and isn’t afraid to be more physical, he can bring so much more to his game.
New York Rangers
Now, even though his presence on the ice is more clear, that doesn’t excuse Nash’s lack of scoring chances. And for $7.8M/year, Nash does need to start finding the net soon if he is to beat last year’s numbers, and more importantly, prove that he is worth that kind of money.
The Rangers don’t play again until Friday night when they face the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Garden. This could be a perfect opportunity for Nash to start finding his hunger for goals again, and he will certainly want to start putting some numbers up on the board along with his line-mates, Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard, who both have four and three goals respectively.
To say that Nash is capable of being the top goal scorer in the NHL is an understatement. The 31-year-old has the potential to break records in the NHL, as well as carrying his team to a Stanley Cup. But with his playoff form being at an all time low last year, it is getting harder and harder for Ranger fans to put their faith in Nash.
Let’s not get hasty though. We are only ten games into the regular season, and some players may still be finding their feet. Nash just needs to put on his running shoes, and come out of the gates flying in the next game against the Leafs.
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