New York Rangers: Thank you for everything, Rick Nash
After six years on Broadway, Rick Nash’s time with the New York Rangers came to an end when he was traded to the Boston Bruins.
Rick Nash joined the Rangers back in 2012 when he was traded to New York in a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Rangers moved forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defenseman Tim Erixon, and a first-round draft pick in 2013 in exchange for Nash, and it was one of the best moves the Rangers could have made.
Nash gave his all in every game and his hard work and dedication along with the skillset that made him the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft made him one of the most dynamic players on the Rangers roster.
In his six seasons with the Rangers, Nash recorded 145 goals and 107 assists for 252 points. He also celebrated career milestones, including his 400th career goal and his 1,000th career game this season.
Nash was a part of some of the best years of New York Rangers hockey over the last decade. He will go down as a part of an era of hockey that will be hard to replicate in the coming years.
A large part of the Rangers’ success was a direct result of the play of Rick Nash. There were many reasons that the Rangers fan base grew to love him.
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We love it Nashty
In his time with the Rangers, the 6-foot-4 winger established himself as an essential part of the New York offense, providing skill in zone entries and physicality in front of the net.
There are a slew of qualities that make Rick Nash such a force.
He can immediately make an impact on any roster he is a part of because of his size and his physical play. However, what is far more impressive is his sense paired with his skating and stick handling ability.
His stature allowed him to post up in front of the net and look for deflections and rebounds. But what fans truly look for are highlight reel goals, and Rick Nash provided those too.
Nash is someone who has an innate ability to be able to read plays in the defensive zone and break up things up. This gave him the opportunity for breakaways, but if he had a teammate by his side, you’d bet that he would make a pass if it felt right.
His sense is one of the best aspects of his game and it absolutely made the players around him better.
He is also someone who drove possession and because of his well-roundedness, he would make an impact on both ends of the ice.
Perhaps most important is that even when he was struggling Nash never took a back seat. You would always hear his name, no matter what.
This says something not just about Nash as a player, but as a leader. He never walked off the ice without giving whatever he had on any given night.
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His best quality
Rick Nash’s demeanor is hands down his best quality.
I always admired Nash for the way he carried himself on and off the ice. I truly think that his attitude rubbed off on the people around him.
Being a player who is expected to constantly produce can’t be easy. Especially in a market like New York. But Nash never seemed to let it get to him.
He was modest in the good moments where it might be easier to be arrogant.
More importantly, he was always respectful and honest in the not-so-good moments where it might be easier to let your frustration show.
Rick Nash is an extremely talented hockey player. New York was lucky to have him because of this.
But what I will miss most, though, is Rick Nash the person.
Nasher, it’s been a blast watching you play hockey for the last six years. Through all the highs and all the lows, at the end of the day, we were lucky to have you come play for us.
Your impact on the roster was felt every time you stepped on the ice. We felt it when you were off the ice too.
Thank you for your dedication to the game, but especially to your teammates and to the city of New York.
Next: Thank you for everything Ryan McDonagh
You will always, always have a home here on Broadway.