Nash was promoted to director of hockey operations with the Blue Jackets on Friday after serving as their director of player development.

“For me as a player, I didn’t get to get my name on the Stanley Cup, so this is the next best chance to try to get my name on the Stanley Cup,” Nash explained. “That’s why I do it, is to bring a championship to Columbus and give back to our fans.”

BREAKING NEWS! 👀

Rick Nash has been named our Director of Hockey Operations!

In addition, President and GM Don Waddell announced that Basil McRae will now serve as Director of Pro Scouting, and Zach Abdou was hired as Senior Manager of Hockey Operations.

📝… pic.twitter.com/bzvG8dxfdw

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) September 20, 2024

Though Nash is most linked to the Blue Jackets, who made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, he came closest to winning a ring with the Rangers. In 2014, he helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years. But the Rangers lost in five games to the Los Angeles Kings, dropping three games in overtime, two in double OT.

A Game 5 double-OT loss in Los Angeles sealed the Rangers fate. And Alec Martinez’s series-winning goal came shortly after Nash was unable to bury a shot at an open net with Jonathan Quick out of position.

Nash was held without a point in the 2014 Cup Final. That’s a bittersweet memory for him after he scored three goals in the six-game win against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final.

It was a burden Nash carried in his years with the Rangers, that he didn’t produce offensively in the postseason. His first year with the Rangers after being acquired from the Blue Jackets in 2013, he scored only one goal in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games. Then in 2014 he was shut out in the Cup Final and finished with 10 points in 25 games.

The following season, 2014-15, Nash helped the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy with an NHL career-high 42 goals. He had 15 postseason points that year, when the Rangers lost in Game 7 of the conference final to the Tampa Bay Lightning, one game after his four-point effort kept their season alive with a massive road win in Game 6.

Despite four 20-goal seasons and much team success, Nash had a somewhat disappointing run with the Rangers, in part because of injuries. In a twist, his tenure ended on a positive note when he was dealt to the Boston Bruins ahead of the 2018 trade deadline.

As part of the return package, the Rangers received defenseman Ryan Lindgren and a first-round pick in the 2018 draft that turned into defenseman K’Andre Miller. Needless to say, that was a coup for the Rangers.

Related: Former Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr set to retire in Czechia after this season at 53

Former Rangers forward Rick Nash promoted to new role by Blue Jackets

Nash is beloved in Columbus, where he was captain and a franchise icon to begin his NHL career. He holds Blue Jackets records for goals (289), power-play goals (83), assists (258) and points (547). His No. 61 was retired in 2022.

Since 2021, Nash has worked for the organization, focusing mainly on its prospects, which he acknowledged is his favorite part of the his previous — and current — role.

New general manager Don Waddell was quick to promote Nash after coming over from the Carolina Hurricanes this offseason.

“I knew him as a player, didn’t know him as a person. I got to know him as a person throughout my time here,” Waddell explained. “I wouldn’t be a smart person running this team if I didn’t surround myself with people like Rick Nash.”

Soft-spoken and exceedingly polite, Nash always has been known as a class act in the NHL, on and off the ice. Now, he’s proving to be an executive on the rise to keep an eye on with the promotion and his recent work as general manager for Canada at the 2024 World Hockey Championship.

“I probably thought about this path before I retired,” Nash said. “As you get older, you have a family, and you know there’s going to be life after hockey. Being a player or a professional athlete is just a small chapter in your life, so I’ve thought about this a lot and feel like I’ve put a lot of time in and been a sponge to a lot of different people to try to learn the business.”

Waddell promised that Nash “will be involved’ in every hockey decision made by the Blue Jackets.

Columbus has missed the playoffs four straight seasons, and finished last in the Metropolitan Division the past two. It enters 2024-25 following the tragic death of star forward Johnny Gaudreau and after trading high-scoring wing Patrik Laine.

Recently, there’ve been mixed rumors about whether the Rangers are willing to trade their first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. However, in today’s hockey economy, to land an impact player, the Rangers may have to deal away a first-rounder to get the results they desire.

Since the NHL implemented an amateur/entry draft in 1963, New York has traded away 14 first-round picks, landing two Hall of Famers in those deals. Of course, not all of these trades were successful, but at the time, they probably made sense because, as mentioned, landing impact players aren’t cheap.

Related: Rangers 2024 trade board

Rangers have dealt away their first-round picks 14 times

Aug. 29, 1974

To New York: Greg Polis

To St. Louis: Larry Sacharuk and 1977 first-round pick (8th overall Lucien DeBlois)

The first time the Rangers traded away a first-round draft pick occurred in 1974 when they dealt their top selection in the 1977 Amateur Draft and Larry Sacharuk to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for forward Greg Polis. Interestingly, the Rangers received that first-round pick back in a separate trade and selected Lucien DeBlois. Polis played 275 games with New York, while DeBlois skated with six teams over 15 seasons, winning the Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Montreal Canadiens. DeBlois also helped the Rangers reach the 1979 Stanley Cup Final, when they lost in five games to the Canadiens. Sacharuk played just 151 games in the NHL.

Jun. 2, 1978

To New York: Rights to hire Fred Shero as head coach

To Philadelphia: 1978 first-round pick (7th overall Ken Linseman)

After he guided the Philadelphia Flyers to the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975, the Rangers were interested in hiring Fred Shero as coach for the 1978-79 season. To negotiate with Shero, they traded away a first-round pick that turned out to be Ken Linseman. The pesky center ended up with 807 points in 860 games, racked up 1,725 penalty minutes and helped the Edmonton Oilers win the Stanley Cup in 1986. Shero coached the Rangers for two-plus seasons and led them to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979.

Jan. 27, 1988

To New York: Chris Nilan and 1989 first-round pick (20th overall Steven Rice)

To Montreal: 1989 first-round pick (13th overall Lindsay Vallis)

Enforcer Chris Nilan won the Stanley Cup in 1986 with the Montreal Canadiens and was traded to the Rangers within two years, where he played 85 games over three seasons. Also included in the trade to New York was a first-round pick, which the Rangers used to select Steven Rice in 1989. Rice played 329 games in the NHL and just 11 with the Rangers, but was part of the 1991 trade with the Oilers that brought Mark Messier to Broadway. Meanwhile, the Canadiens used their draft pick on Lindsay Vallis, who played only one game in the League.

Mar. 23, 1995

To New York: Pat Verbeek

To Hartford: Glen Featherstone, Michael Stewart, 1995 first-round pick (13th overall Jean-Sebastien Giguere), and 1996 fourth-round pick (104th overall Steve Wasylko)

Pat Verbeek was a three-time 40-goal scorer when he was traded from the Hartford Whalers to New York in 1995. Besides acquiring two players, Glen Featherstone (262 games) and Michael Stewart (no NHL experience) at the time, the Whalers picked up a first-round pick they turned into future Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Jean-Sebastian Giguere.

Although his stint in Connecticut was short (eight games), Giguere would build his legacy with the Anaheim Ducks in the mid-2000s, while the other pick, Steve Wasylko, never made it into the League. Overall, Verbeek had 97 points in 88 games with the Rangers over two seasons.

Jun. 26, 1999

To New York: 1999 first-round pick (9th overall Jamie Lundmark), 1999 third-round pick (77th overall Craig Anderson), and the rights to Jan Hlavac

To Calgary: Marc Savard and 1999 first-round pick (11th overall Oleg Saprykin)

In 1999, the Rangers and Calgary Flames swapped first-round picks while trading players Marc Savard and Jan Hlavac. After 10 games on Broadway, Savard went to Calgary, and eventually won the Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011. Hlavac played 218 games for the Rangers during a six-year NHL career.

With their top pick, the Rangers selected Jamie Lundmark, who played 295NHL games, skating in 114 on Broadway. Calgary used their top pick on Oleg Saprykin, who had 55 goals in 325 games and spent five seasons with the Flames. Interestingly, the Flames reacquired the third-round pick in this trade and selected goalie Craig Anderson, who opted not to sign with the team, reentering the draft in 2001, when he was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jun. 26, 1999

To New York: 1999 first-round pick (4th overall Pavel Brendl)

To Tampa Bay: Dan Cloutier, Niklas Sundstrom, 2000 first-round pick (8th Nikita Alexeev), 2000 third-round pick (74th overall Igor Radulov)

The Rangers selected Pavel Brendl (78 NHL games) as their top pick in the 1999 Entry Draft and included him in the trade with the Philadelphia Flyers that brought Eric Lindros to New York in 2001. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning won this particular trade of first-round selections, acquiring goalie Dan Cloutier (351 games) and center Niklas Sundstrom (750 games) on top of drafting Nikita Alexeev (159 games) and Igor Radulov (43 games).

Mar. 18, 2002

To New York: Pavel Bure and 2002 second-round pick (33rd overall Lee Falardeau)

To Tampa Bay: Filip Novak, Igor Ulanov, 2002 first-round pick (10th overall Eric Nystrom), 2002 second-round pick (40th overall Rob Globke), and 2003 fourth-round pick (116th overall Guillaume Desbiens)

Pavel Bure came to New York in 2002 with 406 goals on his resume and would wrap up his Hall-of-Fame career with the Blueshirts, tacking on 31 more over two seasons. When he was acquired for a king’s ransom from the Florida Panthers, the Rangers dealt away prospect Filip Novak, veteran Igor Ulanov, and three draft picks, including a first, second and fourth.

Ultimately, Novak never played with Florida, while Ulanov skated in 70 games. With their first-round pick, the Panthers traded the pick away to the Flames, who selected Eric Nystrom 10th overall. Regarding the other picks from this trade, Rob Globke played 46 games (all with Florida), and Guillaume Desbiens never skated in Florida but dressed in 23 NHL games.

Jun. 25, 2004

To New York: 2004 first-round pick (19th overall Lauri Korpikoski) and 2004 eighth-round pick (247th overall Jonathan Paiement)

To Calgary: 2004 first-round pick (24th overall Kris Chucko) and 2004 second-round pick (46th overall Adam Pineault)

The Rangers and Flames reconnected in 2004 on another swap of first-round picks. However, this time, no additional players were involved in the deal. With their top pick, the Rangers selected left wing Lauri Korpikoski, who played 68 games in New York and 609 games overall in the NHL, while using their eighth-round pick on Jonathan Paiement, who never played in the League. Calgary drafted Kris Chucko (two NHL games) in the first round before taking Adam Pineault, who would eventually play three games with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Jul. 30, 2005

To New York: 2005 first-round pick (12th overall Marc Staal)

To Atlanta: 2005 first-round pick (16th overall Alex Bourret) and 2005 second-round pick (41st overall Ondrej Pavelec)

In one of arguably the best trades in franchise history, the Rangers made a deal with the Atlanta Thrashers in 2005, which led to the selection of Marc Staal, who skated in the sixth-most games in franchise history with 892. The Thrashers used their top pick on Alex Bourret, who never skated in the NHL, but used their second-round pick on Ondrej Pavelec. As a top netminder for the franchise, Pavelec would become the leader in games played and wins until getting surpassed by Connor Hellebuyck after the club moved to Winnipeg in 2011. Pavelev finished his NHL career with the Rangers as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup in 2017-18.

Jul. 23, 2012

To New York: Rick Nash, Steven Delisle, and 2013 conditional third-round pick

To Columbus: 2013 first-round pick (19th overall Kerby Rychel), Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and Tim Erixon

Rick Nash was the Columbus Blue Jackets’ all-time leading scorer when the Rangers acquired him in the summer of 2012. While in New York, he had 252 points in 375 games before a trade to Boston brought Ryan Lindgren to the team in 2018. Meanwhile, the other player in the swap was Steven Delisle, who never played in the NHL.

Going the other way to Columbus, the Blue Jackets selected Kerby Rychel, who had a brief 43-game career in the League, as their top pick. Also included in the package were Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, and Tim Erixon, who combined for 650 games for the Blue Jackets, with Dubinsky collecting the ninth-most points in franchise history.

Mar. 24, 2014

To New York: Martin St. Louis, 2015 second-round pick (60th overall Oliver Kylington)

To Tampa Bay: 2014 first-round pick (28th overall Josh Ho-Sang), 2015 first-round pick (28th overall Anthony Beauvillier), and 2015 seventh-round pick (209th overall Ziyat Paigin), and Ryan Callahan

After all these years, the trade between the Rangers and Lightning on March 24, 2014, was just Martin St. Louis for Ryan Callahan. During the 2014 run to the Stanley Cup Final, St. Louis was an important player, scoring 15 points in 25 games and sparking the club after the death of his mother. Meanwhile, the second-round pick in this deal returned to the Flames in a different team, who selected Oliver Kylington in 2015.

On the other side, Tampa Bay got Callahan, who played 305 games over six seasons with the club, missing out on their championship seasons of 2020 and 2021. Then, in a trade with the New York Islanders, the Lightning sent away their two first-round picks acquired in this deal, allowing the other New York team to select Josh Ho-Sang and Anthony Beauvillier. Additionally, they traded the seventh-round pick to Edmonton, who selected Ziyat Paigin, who never made it to the NHL.

Mar. 1, 2015

To New York: Keith Yandle, Chris Summers, and 2016 fourth-round pick (98th overall Tarmo Reunanen)

To Arizona: Anthony Duclair, John Moore, 2015 second-round pick (60th overall Oliver Kylington), and 2016 first-round pick (Dennis Cholowski)

As one of the NHL’s Iron Man record holders, Keith Yandle briefly skated in New York, playing 103 games over two seasons, netting 58 points, while Chris Summer played six games for the franchise, spending most of his time in the AHL. With their fourth-round pick, the Rangers selected Tarmo Reunanen, who skated in just four NHL games.

Anthony Duclair played 172 games for the Arizona Coyotes and is still playing in the NHL today with the San Jose Sharks, while John Moore amassed 544 games in his career, suiting up for 19 contests in the desert. Surprisingly, the Coyotes didn’t keep either draft pick acquired in this deal, sending the second-round pick to Calgary, who selected Kylington (173 games), and the first-round pick to the Detroit Red Wings, who picked Dennis Cholowski (117 games).

Jun. 17, 2019

To New York: Jacob Trouba

To Winnipeg: 2019 first-round pick (20th overall Ville Heinola) and Neal Pionk

The current captain of the Blueshirts came to New York in the summer of 2019 after spending the first six seasons of his career with the Jets. After 300 games with the Rangers, he has over 120 points and more than 830 hits. In this exchange, the Jets received Neal Pionk, who has over 150 points since the deal, and the club used their first-round pick on Ville Heinola, who has skated only 35 games in the NHL, spending most of the past four seasons in the AHL.

Oct. 6, 2020

To New York: 2020 first-round pick (19th overall Braden Schneider)

To Calgary: 2020 first-round pick (22nd overall Hendrix Lapierre) and 2020 third-round pick (72nd overall Jeremie Poirier)

In 2020, the same season the Rangers drafted Alexis Lafreniere No. 1 overall, they made another deal with the Flames, swapping first-round picks again. This time, New York was able to draft Braden Schneider at 19th overall. The defenseman is a Rangers regular now and has appeared in 176 games since debuting during the 2021-22 season.

Meanwhile, the Flames traded their first-round pick from this trade to the Carolina Hurricanes, who then moved it to the Washington Capitals, who picked Hendrix Lapierre with the 22nd selection. So far, the 22-year-old has only played 21 games in the NHL, while the club retained their third-round pick, for which they selected Jeremie Poirier, who has yet to debut in the league.

Today we’ll back at that trade and what subsequent deals resulted from it, including some that are still unfolding today.

Related: Ryan Lindgren a steal in the Rick Nash trade

Rick Nash Trade Tree

The trade: The Rangers acquire Rick Nash, Steven Delisle and a 2013 third-round pick from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round pick on July 20, 2012.

Rick Nash Branch

Nash would spend parts of six seasons in New York, including a 42-goal campaign in 2014-15. He finished his Rangers career with 145 goals and 252 points in 375 games before getting shipped to Boston in February 2018 for Matt Belesky, Ryan Spooner, Ryan Lindgren a 2018 first and a 2019 seventh.

Belesky appeared in five games as a Ranger and posted one goal. He was never traded and retired after the 2018-19 season.

Spooner had 16 points in 20 games immediately following the trade but was sent to Edmonton early the following season for Ryan Strome. Strome had his most productive years of his career with the Rangers, scoring 195 points in 263 games before leaving in 2022 as a free agent.

Lindgren has been a mainstay on the Rangers blueline.

The first-round pick was packaged with a second-round pick that year to move up in the draft to select defenseman K’Andre Miller 22nd overall.

The seventh-round pick was sent to Carolina for a 2018 seventh, which New York used to draft Riley Hughes, who never played a game for the Blueshirts.

Steven Delisle Branch

Delisle never played a game for the Rangers — or any NHL team — but was somehow included in another Rangers blockbuster just months after being included in the Nash trade.

Delisle, along with Marian Gaborik and Blake Parlett, was sent back to Columbus on April 3, 2013, for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth-round pick in 2014.

Brassard would become one of the most popular Rangers during the mid-2010s, helping the team reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and winning a Presidents Trophy the following year. “Big Game Brass” posted 174 points in 254 games, but on July 18, 2016, he, along with a 2018 seventh-round pick, would be part of another massive trade in Rangers history when he was sent to Ottawa for Mika Zibanjead and a 2018 second-round pick.

Zibanejad took off in New York, where he remains today.

The second-rounder, along with a third-round pick in 2017, was sent to Detroit in February 2017 for defenseman Brendan Smith.

Dorsett, a rugged fourth-liner, was traded at the 2014 draft to Vancouver for a third-round pick (Keegan Iverson).

Moore, a former first-round pick who was just 22, never found his footing in New York and was packaged along with Anthony Duclair, a 2015 2nd and 2016 first, and sent to Phoenix for Keith Yanle, defenseman Chris Summer and a 2016 fourth-round pick (Tarmo Reunanen).

Yandle spent parts of two seasons in New York. He was a pending UFA and the Rangers shipped him to Florida for a 2016 sixth (Tyler Wall) and a 2017 fourth. 

The fourth-round pick was sent to San Jose for a 2017 fourth (Brandon Crawley) and 2017 sixth, which the Rangers used to draft Morgan Barron. He’d play 18 games for the Rangers before getting traded, along with a 2022 first and second, and a 2023 fith, to Winnipeg foe Andrew Copp and a 2023 sixth (Dylan Roobroeck).

Summers played in six games for the Rangers over two seasons.

The Rangers flipped Reunanen to Carolina in 2022 for Maxim Letunov.

Pavel Buchnevich Branch

The 2013 third-round pick Columbus included with Nash turned into Buchnevich, who spent five seasons with the Rangers, amassing 79 goals and 195 points in 301 games. New York shipped him to the St. Louis Blues in July 2021 for forward Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick.

Blais’ time in New York was an unmitigated disaster, and he was sent back to the Blues, along with defenseman Hunter Skinner, a 2023 first-rounder and a 2024 fourth for Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola. Both of those players left in free agency.

The 2022 second the Rangers got from St. Louis was packed with Barron in the Copp deal.

Conclusion

Trade trees can be hit or miss, both in on ice and entertainment value. Nash’s time in New York is polarizing, as he wasn’t the missing piece many felt he’d be, but he also wasn’t a flop as others feel he was. 

Few players impact an organization both upon their arrival and their departure as Nash did, as his time in New York quite literally resulted in ⅔ of the Rangers’ left blueline. 

You’d also be hard pressed to find a more anonymous player than Delisle being involved in two seismic trades in a franchise’ history, let alone them both coming in less than a calendar year.

The biggest whiff here — outside of Ottawa giving up Zibanjead for Brassard — was Buchnevich, who has blossomed into a borderline superstar in St. Louis. That, to this writer, has become one of the worst Rangers trades of the 21st century, if not all time.

New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin is having a season for the ages in between the pipes. While he is clearly the MVP of the team, he is not only vying for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s best goalie but the Hart Trophy for league MVP as well.

This season the 26 year-old netminder is 27-6-3. He’s also been running red-hot going 14-2-1 in his last 17 starts and earning a point in eight of the his last nine appearances (7-1-1).

However, his video game like SV% is challenging the all-time single season mark set by legendary goalie Jacques Plante.

Igor Shesterkin challenging Jacques Plants

Per NHL PR, Igor’s 940 SV% is the second highest at this time in the season (min 36 GP) to Jacques Plante, who posted a .942 SV% with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1970-71.

It was in that same season Plante established the highest mark ever for a SV% for goalies with a minimum of 30 games played. The record Igor is chasing is .944 set by Plante in 40 games.

“He’s been unbelievable,” Gerard Gallant said shaking his head. “The rush saves, the breakaway saves, he’s unbelievable.”

Currently, Shesterkin’s SV% also ranks first overall in the league and his 1.96 GAA in good for second behind Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman’s 1.95 GAA.

“He’s been great and he continues to be great,” Jacob Trouba said.

Rick Nash has number retired

Former New York Rangers forward Rick Nash became the first player in Columbus Blue Jackets 22 year history to have their number retired.

The Blue Jackets honored Nash in a pregame ceremony and raised his No. 61 banner into the rafters at Nationwide Arena before a 5-4 shootout loss to the Boston Bruins.

Nash spent the first nine years of his NHL career with Columbus after the organization made him the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft. He is the Jackets’ all-time leader in games played (674), goals (289), assists (258) and points (547).

The left winger also spent six seasons with the New York Rangers before finishing his career with 11 games for Boston in 2017-18. He scored 437 goals in 1,060 games.

“This banner doesn’t represent what I did,” he said, addressing the fans. “It represents what we did. … I am so humbled.”

Rick Nash, NHL.com

NHL Rumors

The Toronto Maple Leafs make their trade deadline priority clear. Plus Mark Giordano suitors and who is the New York Rangers top trade target? Read more.

The New York Rangers picked up a big win against division rival New Jersey Devils. In the process, struggling forward Filip Chytil picked up the game-winning goal in the second the period.

Coming off the heels of head coach Gerard Gallant’s “play like Mika” comments, Chytil addressed that after the game.

Filip Chytil addresses “Mika” comments

Prior to the Rangers game on Wednesday night, Gallant told the press that Chytil would return to the lineup after missing three games, two to a healthy scratch. It was his advice to the youngster that got everyone’s attention.

“If there’s a guy I’d like to see him play like, go out and play like Mika Zibanejad,” Gallant said. “You’re a left-handed Mika. Mika plays a complete game. Face-offs, power play, he goes out there and does a good job. Play hard and compete.”

That was certainly a tall order for the 22 year-old that has struggled to find any level of consistency in the NHL. After a virtual no show performance against the Blues, Chytil was clearly visible last night.

“I would like to play like Mika, but I’m a different player. I just can look at what he’s doing out there and take from him what suits to my game,” Chytil explained. “I watch him every day. When I’m on the bench during the game, I watch how he plays. He’s one of the best centers in the league and I’m happy I can learn from him. But I just try to take small details from him and use it in my game, but not everything because we’re different players.” 

After the game, Gallant was asked about Chytil’s performance. He once again reiterated his comments, which has little to do with Zibanejad’s scoring.

“I want him to play like Mika, that style of hockey,” he explained. “Work hard both ends and be a good player. Make yourself noticeable on the ice. I notice Mika almost every shift because he works both ends and does all the little things.”

Rick Nash recalls first day in NY

Nash will become the first player in the 22-year history of the Columbus Blue Jackets to have his number retired.

The Blue Jackets will honor Nash in a pregame ceremony and raise a No. 61 banner into the rafters at Nationwide Arena before tonight’s game against the Boston Bruins.

Nash spent the first nine years of his NHL career with Columbus after the organization made him the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft. He is the Jackets’ all-time leader in games played (674), goals (289), assists (258) and points (547).

The left winger also spent six seasons with the New York Rangers before finishing his career with 11 games for Boston in 2017-18. He scored 437 goals in 1,060 games.

Nash was recently on the 32 Thoughts Podcast and asked by Elliotte Friedman about his first day in New York after being traded. He surprised Rick with the fact that within hours of getting there he was hanging out with Henrik Lundqvist and baseball superstar Alex Rodrigues, who was with the NY Yankees at the time.

“I’m impressed, you dug around for this one and you got me smiling,” Nash started. “I just landed with my wife and we did some media tour stuff with legendary JR (John Rosasco) that everyone knows. Henrik Lundqvist invited us over for a drink in his penthouse apartment. A kid from Brampton (Ontario) that’s been playing in Columbus in 10 years hasn’t met many celebrities or athletes. I walk in and there’s A-Rod standing right there– we meet A-Rod and had a fun night in New York City.”

Nash went on to explain that even growing up in Toronto, where hockey is #1 that he never crossed paths with anyone from the Maple Leafs.

“So for me going to New York and that being my first night, sitting in a penthouse apartment overlooking the city having drinks with The King and A-Rod– that was one of those moments you felt like you were in the NHL.”

NHL Rumors

Get the latest buzz on the Rangers wish list, what Phil Kessel is worth and a potential Maple Leafs – Canucks blockbuster trade. Read more.

There was a some good news when Gerard Gallant revealed that he skated on his own this morning. With the Blueshirts next game Saturday at 7:00 PM ET against the Blue Jackets, Chytil seems unlikely to play.

The Blueshirts will also play Sunday against the New Jersey Devils, so it’s possible to see Chytil in action this weekend.

Chytil, 22, has 3 points in 12 games this season.

Rangers schedule change

NHL Press Release:

NEW YORK (Nov. 11, 2021) – The National Hockey League and ESPN today announced updates to the 2021-22 NHL regular-season schedule. ABCand ESPN+ will televise the 2021 NHL Thanksgiving Showdown, which will feature the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins on Friday, Nov. 26, at 1 p.m. ET. The Rangers-Bruins game replaces the previously scheduled St. Louis Blues-Chicago Blackhawks matchup, which will air at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+/Hulu. The New Jersey Devils and Nashville Predators will faceoff at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+/Hulu, as originally scheduled.

SCHEDULE UPDATE: The start time of our game vs. BOS on Nov. 26 has been moved up to 1 PM and will be broadcast on ABC.

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 11, 2021

Blue Jackets to retire Rick Nash’s #61

The Columbus Blue Jackets have announced that Rick Nash’s #61 will be retired on March 5, 2022.

Nash played nine seasons with Columbus. He also enjoyed five and half seasons with the New York Rangers.

In 674 games with the Jackets, he registered 547 points. He picked up another 252 points in 375 contests on Broadway. Nash only played 11 games for the Bruins and registered 6 points. He was forced to retire due to concussions at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Congrats to Rick Nash and his family.

There can only be (Sixty) One.

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) November 11, 2021

Rangers take in a Knicks game

Igor Shesterkin was joined by fellow teammates Alexandar Georgiev and Barclay Goodrow to take in the NY Knicks versus the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday. The Knicks lost 112-100, but the Blueshirts in attendance had a good time.

📍The Mecca @nyknicks x #NYR pic.twitter.com/QenBEj3YFu

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 11, 2021

NHL Trade Bait Board

Now that Jack Eichel is off the table, check out the latest NHL Trade Bait Board here.

Yes, if not for the acquisition and subsequent trade of Nash the Blueshirts would be without Mika Zibanejad, Pavel Buchnevich, Ryan Strome, Ryan Lindgren and K’Andre Miller.

Rangers trade for Nash eventually nets Zibanejad and Buchnevich

After much speculation, on July 23, 2012 the Rangers sent Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Animisov, Tim Erixon, and 2013 1st rd pick for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle, and a conditional third round pick.

That conditional third rounder became none other than Pavel Buchnevich. The Rangers winger now finds himself on the team’s top line with Chris Kreider and with yet another star that comes from the Rick Nash Trade Tree.

On April 3, 2013 the Blueshirts would acquire Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore and a sixth round pick in 2014 for Marian Gaborik, Blake Parlett, and none other than Steven Delisle.

In 2016, the Blueshirts would rob the Senators by sending over Derick Brassard and a 7th round pick for Mika Zibanejad and a 2nd round pick.

Trading Nash to Boston lands Lindgren, eventually nets Strome and Miller

We recently wrote about “The Letter” and one of the biggest pieces moved to start the rebuild was Rick Nash. On February 25, 2018 he would net the Rangers Ryan Lindgren, Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, a 1st rd pick in 2018, and a 7th rd pick in 2019.

Lindgren would make his debut on the Rangers blue-line on January 15, 2019 and never looked back. He and Adam Fox now form one of the Blueshirts best defense pairings and will play a role when the team starts to contend.

Ryan Spooner was moved in a one for one deal to land Ryan Strome from the Oilers on November 16, 2018. However, the biggest piece acquired came a little more indirectly.

At the 2018 NHL Draft, the Rangers moved that 1st rd pick (26th overall) to the Ottawa Senators to acquire the 22nd pick. That selection was used on future Norris Trophy candidate, K’Andre Miller.

Looking back at Rick Nash, fans should have a new level of gratitude for his time in New York, and the subsequent time after. A big thank you is owed.

Note: I want to thank the NYR PR department for collecting all this great info for me to share with you.

NHL Rumors

Today’s latest offering.

The Ranger Rebuild: It’s slow, it’s murky and it is testing the razor thin patience of the jaded and frustrated Garden Faithful. As Rangerstown continues to take to Social Media and question David Quinn’s coaching acumen and wonder what is taking Kaapo Kakko so long to break out and organize Lindy Ruff’s tar-and-feather party, let us take a look back at the decade that was.

As we prepare to flip the calendar to the year optometrists and ophthalmologists have been waiting for, let’s hit the rewind button and examine what has to be universally considered a very successful ten year span.

As many other Ranger scribes have stated when opining about the decade known as the two-thousand-teens, the New York Rangers accomplished every goal a franchise could achieve other than, say it with me now, winning the Stanley Cup.

Pieces in place

The year was 2010. The fiery John Tortorella was the head coach. Sniper Marian Gaborik was the team’s most dangerous and potent offensive threat. Chris Drury was the captain and Henrik Lundqvist was in the midst of re-writing the goaltender section of the team’s media guide. The Rangers may have failed to qualify for the playoffs in the first year of the second decade of the new millennium. However, the foundation was being set for the Blueshirts to give their “Long Suffering” fans thrills and memories that would surely last a lifetime.

Winter Classic

2012: The Rangers took part in their first regular season outdoor hockey game defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 in the NHL’s marquee New Year’s tradition, the Winter Classic. Behind two goals from tough guy MIke Rupp and a performance for the ages by Henrik Lundqvist between the pipes, the Blueshirts, on national television, showed the hockey world they were locked and loaded and ready to beat the league’s best. The Rangers would go on to capture their first division title since 1994 and win two scintillating playoff series against Ottawa and Washington before running out of steam against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Cup Run

2014: The meandering Rangers spent most of the regular season transitioning from the fiery but fired John Tortorella and assimilating to the placid, cerebral approach of new coach Alain Vigneault. After surviving a hard fought first round seven game battle with the Flyers, the Rangers found themselves down three-games-to-one against the mighty Penguins from Pittsburgh. Then, Marty St Louis’ mother, France, sadly and shockingly passed away and the team would rally around their grieving comrade. The Rangers, for the first time in franchise history, roared back from a 3-1 series deficit to steal the series in the Steel City from Sydney Crosby and Co. winning game seven by the thinnest of margins, 2-1. Next up would be the Montreal Canadians. It took the Rangers six games to say au revoir to their Original Six rivals from French Canada and wouldn’t ya know it, the New York Rangers were in the Stanley Cup Finals! The size, strength and moxie of the LA Kings proved to be too much for the gallant and valiant Blueshirts to overcome. Five games and three crushing overtime losses later. the Kings were raising that silver chalice towards the heavens while the Rangers embarked on a somber six hour flight back east.

President’s Trophy

2015: The 2015 New York Rangers were, in a word, dominant! This very likable group of players, lead by Rick Nash, captain Ryan Mcdonagh and terrific goal-tending by both Henrik Lundqvist and Cam Talbot, would set franchise records for wins with 53 and their total of 113 points not only were the most in the 90-plus year history, but it also earned the Blueshirts their third President’s Trophy. Steven Stamkos, Ben Bishop and the rest of the Tampa Bay Lightning may have ended the Rangers dream season on Garden ice in game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals, However, that team and that season will forever remain in high regard among the Garden Faithful

The Letter

2018: February 8th, 2018, Ranger fans were sent a letter from team management alerting the most loyal fans in hockey about the plans to reshape and rebuild the franchise. One-by-one, fan favorites and stalwarts were being jettisoned in favor of young prospects and future draft selections. This act of courageousness and transparency is extremely hard to pull off, especially in the New York market. However, thus far. Glen Sather, Jeff Gorton and now, John Davidson have more than kept their promise made to their desperate and championship-starved fan base almost two years ago. The Rangers have a loaded farm system, not to mention of plethora of young studs currently inundating the big-league roster. The future is so bright for the Rangers, they have to wear…

Kakko

2019: In April, at the NHL’s draft lottery selection show and with the heroic Steven McDonald’s badge and the luck of the Irish in tow, Jeff Gorton sat there patiently watching team after team having their logo cards flipped by NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daily. Gorton and the Rangers would, as we know, end up with the 2nd overall draft pick and in June, the selection of Finnish man-child Kaapo Kakko caused pandemonium at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Ten years from now, in the year 2029, how will Rangerstown look back on that decade that was? Hopefully, for the sake of the exasperated and embittered fan base, they’ll have memories of championship celebrations and victory parades.

Player of the decade: Henrik Lundqvist

Moment of the decade: When the clock struck all zero’s at the end of game six of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals

Stat of the decade: The Rangers won six consecutive game 7’s from 2012-2015

The year 2015 wasn’t too long ago, but it seems like eons given how active Rangers GM Jeff Gorton has been in the trade market. From minor trades to major blockbusters, the Rangers have cycled through a plethora of players over the past several years.

While a select few still believe Gorton is not anything special, it is hard to find a Rangers fan who disapproves of all the work that Rangers GM has done of late.

Of course, Gorton’s activity spiked up when the Rangers announced a rebuild a year and a half ago, and that’s when things really started to get interesting. Let’s take a look at what I believe to be Gorton’s five greatest trades since taking over four years ago.

5. Trade for Yegor Rykov

At the 2018 NHL Trade Deadline, the Rangers traded forward Michael Grabner to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for defenseman Yegor Rykov and a second-round draft pick.

This trade was a good one for a variety of reasons. Rykov is an excellent young prospect who has a good chance of being in the Rangers lineup on opening night. He is a solid two-way defender who could easily have a lengthy career as a dependable top-six defenseman in the NHL.

Despite Rykov’s favorable scouting report, he is not what made this trade a good one in the end. The Rangers were able to use the second-round pick, along with another pick, to move up in the draft and select defenseman K’Andre Miller. Miller is one of the NHL’s top blue line prospects.

4. Rick Nash Trade

In 2018, the Rangers traded Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins in exchange for forwards Ryan Spooner and Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first-rounder, and a 2019 seventh-rounder.

This trade helped the Rangers a ton. First off, Lindgren is a solid defensive prospect who could compete in the Rangers system the next few seasons. I expect him to potentially be the Rangers’ seventh defenseman.

The first-round draft pick was used in conjunction with the second-rounder received from the Devils to move up and select Miller. That was the biggest part of that trade with Boston, as Miller is expected to be a Blueshirt for years to come.

And then Ryan Spooner was flipped to the Edmonton Oilers this past season in exchange for Ryan Strome. Spooner continued moving teams after that, while Strome put up solid bottom-six stats for New York. The trade that sent Nash to Boston worked well for the Rangers on a variety of levels.

3. Ryan McDonagh/JT Miller Trade

This was the biggest trade to immediately follow the Rangers rebuild announcement.

The Rangers traded captain Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller to the Tampa Bay Lightning for forward Vladislav Namestnikov and Brett Howden, defenseman Libor Hajek, a 2018 first-rounder, and a 2019 second-rounder.

JT Miller did not work out for the Lightning, who shipped him off to the Vancouver Canucks this offseason. Namestnikov has been average in New York, but he’s not part of the excitement surrounding this trade.

The Rangers used the first-round pick to select defenseman Nils Lundkvist in the 2018 draft. Lundkvist, along with Miller, is expected to be a key piece of the Rangers defense over the next decade.

In addition, Libor Hajek is a promising prospect who will likely be competing with Rykov for a spot in the opening night lineup in October. He is a stay-at-home defender who pairs well with offensive defensemen.

Lastly, the Rangers also got Howden. A good, young centerman, Howden is an excellent play-maker who has second-line potential. He will likely fill the role of third or fourth-line center in years to come.

2. Acquiring Jacob Trouba

Just a few short weeks ago, the Rangers acquired star defenseman Jacob Trouba from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for defenseman Neal Pionk and a first-round draft pick.

This was highway robbery and one of Gorton’s best trades by far. Neal Pionk has some upside, but he clearly has a long way to go before he is a complete defenseman. I’m not saying the Jets don’t watch game tape, but maybe they took too many bathroom breaks while doing so. Pionk is going to really disappoint some people over there.

What’s even better about this trade is that the draft pick wasn’t even owned by Rangers. They had received it when they traded Kevin Hayes to the Jets. So the Rangers basically returned Winnipeg’s own draft pick and tacked on an average young player for one of the best young defensemen in the league.

1. Rangers Acquire Mika Zibanejad

You should’ve known this was coming. Jeff Gorton executed one of the most one-sided trades to occur in the NHL in recent years when he acquired Zibanejad and a second-round pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Derick Brassard and a seventh-round pick.

Brassard went into decline in Ottawa. In the few years following this trade, he has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins, then to the Florida Panthers, and then finally to the Colorado Avalanche. Brassard isn’t a bad player, but he is nowhere close to the player he was in New York.

Meanwhile, Zibanejad has become the Rangers first line centerman and has begun to develop into a potentially elite force in the NHL. Still only in his mid-20’s, Zibanejad is not even close to being fully developed. The Rangers won this trade by the widest margin imaginable, and it is paying off gloriously.

Side Note:

Many of you could be wondering how I didn’t include the trade that brought over Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in 2017. While this has the potential to be a great trade, it hasn’t show it yet. That pick was used on Lias Andersson, who is an excellent prospect. But he has not shown enough in my opinion to warrant the trade being a success. DeAngelo is a good player but likely won’t be a Ranger a few seasons down the line. The jury is still out on this one, in my opinion.

2014 Stanley Cup Finals.

Game 1: Dan Girardi. The superb and usually dependable Ranger defenseman commits an egregious turnover that leads directly to the game-winning overtime goal by eventual Conn Smythe Trophy winner Justin Williams giving the LA Kings a 1-0 series lead.

Game 2: With the Rangers holding a 4-2 third period lead and in complete control of the affair, referee Dan O’ Halloran decided to let a controversial Los Angeles goal stand even though Kings forward Dwight King (no relation) plowed over the valiant but incredulous Ranger net-minder Henrik Lundqvist in an obvious goalie interference infraction. Obvious to everyone except the officials that is. The Blueshirts would not recover from the O’Halloran gaffe and would end up losing, again, in overtime giving the Kings a 2-0 series lead.

Game 5: Overtime. With the Stanley Cup and the Rangers season hanging in the balance, their best offensive player, Rick Nash was an inch width of a Kings player’s stick from burying the game-winner and sending the Finals back to Gotham for an assuredly electric game six. Instead, Nash’s shot deflects off the stick of defenseman Slava Voynov and flutters harmlessly wide giving the Kings a reprieve. And, wouldn’t you know it, fellow Los Angeles blue-liner Alec Martinez rockets himself into Stanley Cup lore, scoring the golden goal off a rebound to give the Kings their second Stanley Cup championship in a three-year span.

Rehashing the outcome of the Stanley Cup Finals series that took place exactly five years ago is not the purpose of this piece. Unearthing the pain that had been recently sequestered is certainly not my intention.

You see, the 2014 Ranger team, as a group, should be honored and celebrated. After all, AV’s squad is the only Band of Blueshirts to compete for hockey’s Holy Grail since Mark Messier and Co. slew the 1940 monster 25 years ago and was only the fifth Ranger team to reach the cup finals in the last 79 years.

The wounds and the scars and the bad memories and the heartbreak are still very much fresh in the minds of the Garden Faithful and rightfully so. However, when you really sit down and calm down, you can come to the concussion and realization of what a special team and special season that was.

The 2013-14 regular season, under first-year head coach Alain Vigneault, was a bit of struggle early on. Once the players adjusted to the new system of their new coach, the Rangers began their climb up the standings finishing second in the Metropolitan Division and had a first-round match-up with their bitter rivals from down the Jersey Turnpike, the Philadelphia Flyers. It took seven hard-fought and at times excruciating games, but the Rangers found a way to beat their orange and black-clad nemesis to advance to the next round.

The Rangers would then face off against Pennsylvania’s other hockey team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Down 3-1 in the series, the team received the sad news of the unfortunate passing of beloved teammate Marty St Louis’ mother, France. The Blueshirts would rally around their mourning comrade to storm back, win the final three games and advance to the Conference Finals.

Their opponent, the team they would battle for the right to play for Lord Stanley’s Cup, was the Montreal Canadiens. Henrik Lundqvist would turn the Bell Center, which was once his House of Horrors, into his own personal redemption center, back-stopping his hockey team to a 2-0 series lead. Game six back in New York proved to be a coronation for ‘The King” as Lundqvist, and a timely goal from grinder Dominic Moore proved to be the difference in the Rangers 1-0 victory sending Rangerstown into an absolute frenzy.

Folks, I have no illusions. I am fully aware that “almost” only counts in “horseshoes and hand-grenades” as the saying goes. I am not one for moral victories. Heck, I even wrote a book about my lack of championships and all of the “suffering” my sports teams have put me through. I want to witness my heroes accepting trophies from their respective league commissioner instead of consolatory pats-on-the-back.

Five years after the fact, I am finally at peace with how the 2014 playoff run ended. The euphoric Kings players celebrating just a few feet from the exasperated and sprawled out Henrik Lundqvist is a visual I won’t soon forget. However, as painful as that memory is, my goodness, there was so much to be proud of from that march to the finals.

The Rangers beat the Flyers in a playoff series for the first time since 1986.

The Rangers beat the Penguins in a playoff series for the first time ever, while also becoming the first Blueshirt squad to overcome a 3-1 series deficit.

The Rangers clinched the Eastern Conference Championship on home ice in front of the Garden Faithful with their scintillating 1-0 triumph in game six.

The Rangers represented themselves with pride and dignity in the finals going tooth-for-tooth with the bigger, stronger and more talented Los Angeles Kings. A different bounce here, a changed referee call there and the Canyon of Heroes could have very well seen another red, white and blue mid-June parade. Be that as it may, as frustrating as the series with the Kings was with an outcome that will forever be hard-to-swallow, the 2014 New York Rangers season and playoff run are one to be proud of.