The All-Star Game that Rick Nash Built
Rick Nash enjoying the All-Star fantasy draft (NYR Twitter)
When Rick Nash was traded to the New York Rangers in 2012 he instantly became a villain to the Blue Jackets faithful. Fan feelings aside, Nash doesn’t seem to have any ill will directed at the city. Even though he’s booed every time he has touched the puck in his subsequent returns.
(December 12, 2014 – Source: Rich Lam/Getty Images North America)
Nash spoke to the media on Friday “I love coming back to the City obviously. It’s always a bit strange to come back for hockey because I suited up in this rink for 9-10 years, but it’s fun to see the hockey capital of the universe on Columbus.”
Nash would also go on to speak about the fans relationship with him, “I am over the boos and it doesn’t really affect me anymore. I feel like I put a lot of work into this city and organization and half my career to Columbus and try to build hockey as best that I can and it seems like it’s going off pretty good.”
Since Nash has been dealt, the Blue Jacket have won their first ever playoff game and have turned a corner as an organization. This year the have been plagued by injuries, but they have still spent big money on players like Nathan Horton, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Nick Foligno. Add in the league awarding them this year’s NHL All-Star game and you can see hockey in Columbus is thriving.
Nash explained that part of his duty as a young star with the Jackets was to help the game blossom in Ohio, “That was part of our job, as young players. We had to grow the game in Columbus and to get people in the seats.” As Nash took in all the All-Star happenings he said, “you can tell by spending the weekend here that the game is growing in Columbus.”
(December 7, 2014 – Source: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America)
Even though Nash has moved on he admits that Columbus is still a sentimental place for him, “Everything has been great. I always miss Columbus, I miss the city, it holds a special place to me and my family and always will.” Nash has had a great attitude so far, and during the weekend and we expect that he will continue to be one of the better personalities in town.
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