Rick Nash

Richard Nash (born June 16, 1984) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.

Playing career
A London Knight for two seasons in the OHL, Rick Nash was awarded the Emms Family Award, as the league's top rookie, and amassed 72 points in 54 games in his second season. Nash was selected 1st overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Joining the Blue Jackets immediately after his draft year in 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 No. 1 overall pick to score a goal in their first game and the first to do so in his draft year since Mario Lemieux in 1984. That season, Nash was nominated for the Calder Trophy, as the NHL's best rookie, but lost to defenceman Barret Jackman of the St. Louis Blues. He would, however, join Jackman on the NHL All-Rookie Team.

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 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. Recording 16 assists, Nash finished the year with 57 points.

During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Nash played for HC Davos of Switzerland. He scored 26 goals and 46 points in 44 games and added 11 more points (9 goals, 2 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.

As the NHL resumed play in 2005–06, knee and ankle injuries sidelined Nash for much of the first half of the season. Missing 28 games total, Nash was still named to Team Canada for the 2006 Olympics, shortly after being activated from the injured reserve. Upon returning from a seventh place finish, Nash completed the season at a point-per-game pace with 54 points in 54 games.

In 2006–07, Nash matched his sophomore points total with 57, and was named to the Western Conference All-Star Team for the second time in his career. He has been Columbus' lone representative both times. Nash scored the game-winning goal in the West win.

The following season, on January 17, 2008, Nash scored what many commentators called the "goal of the year" in the final minute versus the Phoenix Coyotes. Breaking a tied score, Nash deked around two defenders and the goaltender to score the eventual game-winner.

The same month, Nash scored the quickest goal in All-Star Game history, just 12 seconds into the game at the 56th National Hockey League All-Star Game, and ended the game with a hat trick.

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.

In July 2008, Nash was nominated for an ESPY Award in the category of Best Play for his goal earlier that year against the Phoenix Coyotes.

On March 7, 2009, Nash scored three unassisted goals in an 8-2 rout over the Detroit Red Wings in Detroit. According to The Columbus Dispatch, citing the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to score three goals unassisted was Maurice "Rocket" Richard (who scored four) against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 1948.

On July 3, 2009, Nash signed an eight year contract extension with the Blue Jackets worth $62.4 Million.

International play
In Nash's second junior season, he was chosen to play for Team Canada's junior squad in the 2002 World Junior Championships, scoring 3 points in a silver medal effort.

Nash would make his senior international debut for Team Canada at the 2005 World Championship, leading the tournament in goals while earning his second silver medal.

In 2006, shortly after returning from an injury, he was selected to play on Team Canada's Olympic team, but managed just one point in a disappointing seventh place finish.

The following year, Nash captured his first gold medal with Team Canada at the 2007 World Championship in a 4-2 victory over Finland in Moscow. Scoring two goals in the gold medal game against Finland and 11 points total, Nash was named to the tournament All-Star Team and earned MVP honours.

Nash appeared in his third World Championship in 2008, but failed to repeat as gold medal champion with Canada, earning silver. In the championship game against Russia, Nash attempted to clear the puck in overtime, but accidentally shot it over the glass, resulting a delay of game penalty. On the powerplay, Russia capitalized, defeating Canada 5-4. Despite his misplay, Nash was named to the tournament All-Star Team for the second consecutive year, finishing with 13 points.

Awards
OHL CHL NHL International Other
 * OHL All-Rookie Team - 2001
 * Emms Family Award (rookie of the year) - 2001
 * CHL All-Rookie Team - 2001
 * NHL All-Rookie Team - 2003
 * Maurice 'Rocket' Richard Trophy - 2004 (shared with Ilya Kovalchuk and Jarome Iginla)
 * NHL All-Star Game appearance - 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
 * NHL Foundation Player Award - 2009
 * World Championships gold medal - 2007
 * World Championships MVP - 2007
 * World Championships All-Star Team - 2007, 2008
 * Best Play ESPY Award nomination - 2008