Background

Nash was raised in Brampton, Ontario, where he attended Brampton Centennial Secondary School. He played minor hockey in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), where he caught the attention of OHL scouts in 1999.

Playing career

A London Knight for two seasons in the OHL, Rick Nash began his major junior career with 66 points in his first year, receiving the Emms Family Award as the League's top rookie. The following season, he amassed 72 points in 54 games and was subsequently selected first overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Columbus Blue Jackets (2002-2012)

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 number one 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 top 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 Maurice "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 the Swiss Nationalliga A (NLA). He scored 26 goals and 46 points in 44 games and added 11 more points (nine goals and two 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.

With the NHL set to resume play in 2005-06, the Blue Jackets re-signed Nash to a five-year, $27 million contract. The deal saw his annual salary increase each year, with $3.5 million the first season and $7 million in the last season of the contract for a $5.4 million average salary. Knee and ankle injuries, however, 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 disappointing seventh-place finish in Turin, 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 was 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. Later, at the end of the season, the goal was nominated for an ESPY Award in the category of Best Play. Selected to his third All-Star Game in 2008 that season, Nash scored the quickest goal in All-Star Game history, just 12 seconds in 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 the off-season, in May 2008, Nash was named the cover athlete and spokesman for the NHL 2K9 video game.

Going into the 2008-09 campaign, the Blue Jackets had gone without a playoff appearance in franchise history. Led by the newly appointed captain Nash and bolstered by rookie goaltender Steve Mason, the Blue Jackets finished the season as the seventh seed in the Western Conference to earn a post-season berth against division-rival the Detroit Red Wings. The series was preceded by an 8-2 rout over the Red Wings on March 7, 2009, a game in which Nash scored three unassisted goals. According to the Columbus Dispatch, citing the Elias Sports Bureau, the last player to score three goals unassisted was Maurice Richard (who scored four) against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 1948. Despite the convincing victory late in the season, the Blue Jackets were swept by the Red Wings in four games.

In addition to leading the Blue Jackets to the playoffs, Nash had a career season with 79 points, in addition to scoring 40 goals for the first time since 2003-04. In the off-season, on July 3, 2009, Nash signed an eight-year contract extension with the Blue Jackets worth $62.4 million set to take effect in 2010-11.

As the 2011-12 season began to unfold, Columbus recorded a dismal 2-12-1 record, the worst start to an NHL season by any team in 19 years. With the team struggling, rumors began circulating that the Blue Jackets were contemplating trading Nash as a solution to their on-ice woes. While Blue Jackets General Manager Scott Howson stated publicly that he had had no discussions regarding a Nash deal, other teams had indeed inquired about his availability. When asked about it, Nash stated that if the franchise felt it could improve itself by dealing him, he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause in order to get the deal done. Though Howson had previously maintained that he had no intention of trading Nash, two weeks before the trade deadline, he stated in the press that the team was open to all options and they were willing to listen to trade proposals for Nash, despite not actively shopping him. Speculation was that in return for Nash the Blue Jackets would ask for a top six forward, a top prospect and a first-round draft pick.

Trade speculation continued on into the summer with no deal imminent. While Howson claimed he merely wanted to receive "market value" in any deal for Nash, there was speculation that his asking price was too high for many rival NHL GMs to consider. Columbus eventually found a trade partner in the New York Rangers. Nash, along with Steven Delisle and a conditional third-round pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, were traded to the Rangers for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round draft pick.

New York Rangers (2012-present)

Nash signed a contract to play with HC Davos again during the 2012-13 NHL lockout. In late September 2012, while playing for Davos, Nash injured his shoulder and left the game.

Nash had a successful first regular season with the Rangers, scoring 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points in 44 games played in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season. However, in the playoffs, Nash underwhelmed with only one goal and four assists in 12 playoff games.

Nash opened the 2013-14 season well, with three assists in two games. But on October 8, 2013, in a game against the San Jose Sharks, Nash suffered a concussion from a hit by Brad Stuart, which forced him to miss 17 games. On November 21, Nash scored his first goal of the season in a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars. He would finish the season with a solid goal total of 26 in 65 games, but with only 13 assists, his 39 points tied a career low. Nash struggled mightily in the playoffs for the second straight year, scoring only three goals in 25 playoff games. Despite his low offensive production, however, he was solid defensively throughout, and the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Finals, ultimately losing in five games to the Los Angeles Kings in a series in which all the games were close decisions.

Rick Nash had another great season in 2014-15, scoring 42 goals and 27 assists, and matching his career-high 69 points that he previously set in 2007-08. Nash would be slightly more productive in the 2015 playoffs, scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in 15 games as the Rangers fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a hard-fought Eastern Conference Finals series that went to 7 games. Of Nash's 14 playoff points, 7 of them came in the series against the Lightning.

Nash's performance declined at the start of the 2015-16 season as he struggled to recapture his scoring pace from the previous season. This was further exacerbated by muscle spasms that caused Nash to miss 22 games. Despite being involved in trade rumors, he would remain with the Rangers through the end of the season, scoring 15 goals, 21 assists, and a career-low 36 points. He recored two goals and two assists in New York's five-game opening round loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

International play

Rick Nash (#61, far left) lines up with Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics.
Medal record
Representing Canada
Men's ice hockey
Olympic Winter Games
	2010 Vancouver
	2014 Sochi
World Championships
	2007 Russia
	2005 Austria
	2008 Canada
World Junior Championships
	2002 Czech Republic

In Nash's second junior season, he was chosen to play for Team Canada's junior squad in the 2002 World Junior Championships, scoring three 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.

On December 30, 2009, Nash was selected to play for Team Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. After starting the tournament on Sidney Crosby's wing, he was switched to a line with Mike Richards and Jonathan Toews, who was named Best Forward. Nash earned his first Olympic medal in the tournament as Team Canada went on to win gold.

Nash was named captain of Team Canada for the 2011 IIHF World Championship. Canada finished fifth in the tournament.

Rick Nash won his second gold medal with Team Canada at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1999-00	Toronto Marlboros	GTHL		34	61	54	115	34		—	—	—	—	—
2000-01	London Knights	OHL		58	31	35	66	56		4	3	3	6	8
2001-02	London Knights	OHL		54	32	40	72	88		12	10	9	19	21
2002-03	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		74	17	22	39	78		—	—	—	—	—
2003-04	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		80	41	16	57	87		—	—	—	—	—
2004-05	HC Davos	NLA		44	26	20	46	83		15	9	2	11	26
2005-06	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		54	31	23	54	51		—	—	—	—	—
2006-07	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		75	27	30	57	73		—	—	—	—	—
2007-08	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		80	38	31	69	95		—	—	—	—	—
2008-09	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		78	40	39	79	52		4	1	2	3	2
2009-10	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		76	33	34	67	58		—	—	—	—	—
2010-11	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		75	32	34	66	34		—	—	—	—	—
2011-12	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL		82	30	29	59	40		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	HC Davos	NLA		17	12	6	18	8		—	—	—	—	—
2012-13	New York Rangers	NHL		44	21	21	42	26		12	1	4	5	0
2013-14	New York Rangers	NHL		65	26	13	39	36		25	3	7	10	8
2014-15	New York Rangers	NHL		79	42	27	69	36		19	5	9	14	4
2015-16	New York Rangers	NHL		60	15	21	36	30		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				922	393	340	733	696		60	10	22	32	14

International

Year	Team	Event	Result		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2002	Canada	WJC	02 !		7	1	2	3	2
2005	Canada	WC	02 !		9	9	6	15	8
2006	Canada	Oly	7th		6	0	1	1	10
2007	Canada	WC	01 !		9	6	5	11	4
2008	Canada	WC	02 !		9	6	7	13	6
2010	Canada	Oly	01 !		7	2	3	5	0
2011	Canada	WC	5th		7	2	3	5	2
2014	Canada	Oly	01 !		6	0	1	1	2
Junior totals					7	1	2	3	2
Senior totals					60	26	28	54	34

Awards

OHL

• OHL All-Rookie Team - 2001
• Emms Family Award (rookie of the year) - 2001

CHL

• CHL All-Rookie Team - 2001

NHL

• NHL All-Rookie Team - 2003
• Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy - 2004
• NHL All-Star Game appearance - 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015
• NHL Foundation Player Award - 2009

NLA

• Best Swiss League forward - 2004-05

International

• World Championships gold medal - 2007
• World Championships MVP - 2007
• World Championships All-Star Team - 2007, 2008
• Gold medal - 2010 Winter Olympic Games
• Gold medal - 2014 Winter Olympic Games

Other

• Best Play ESPY Award nomination - 2008

[ Source: Wikipedia ]