You Either Die a Hero…

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Rick Nash officially retired from the NHL at the age of 34 on January 11, 2019. This is due to unresolved symptoms from a concussion sustained in March 2018. The Columbus Blue Jackets drafted Nash first overall back in 2002. The premier goal scoring power forward won the hearts of Columbus fans and put the young franchise on the map. The sport of hockey in Columbus would not be where it is today without Rick Nash. He is a legend around Columbus for good reason. He is the namesake for pets to YouTube channels (looking at you @TheNasher61). After putting up 289 goals, 258 assists, for a total of 547 points in those nine seasons in Columbus, he then looked to further his career elsewhere.



…or Live Long Enough to See Yourself Become the Villain



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Convoluted rumors surrounded the Blue Jacket’s star player after the team’s horrendous start to the 2011-12 season. Nash stated that if the franchise thought they could improve in the long run without him, he would waive his no-trade clause. He seemed to feel that he could advance his career while helping the franchise he helped to build. Rick Nash was traded to the NY Rangers, along with Steven Delisle and a conditional 3rd round pick (Pavel Buchnevich), for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and a 2013 1st round pick in the summer of 2012.



Sometimes People Need More



Trade Tree



In honor of Nash’s retirement, a trade tree felt like a fitting tribute. Each part of the original trade will start as 1.0. Each subsequent step will be 2.0, the next 3.0, etc. This focus will be entirely on the Columbus Blue Jackets, even though the far-reaching ripple effects of this original trade can be felt by a multitude of other teams (EDM acquiring Ryan Spooner, for instance). A branch will be marked with “-End” when the player has left in FA or is with the team currently. For instance, Kerby Rychel’s branch ends since Scott Harrington is still on the Blue Jackets team.



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1.0 – Initial Trade

To NYR: Rick Nash (1.1), Steven Delisle (1.2), 3rd round Pick

To CBJ: Artem Anisimov (1.3), Brandon Dubinsky (1.4), Tim Erixon (1.5), 1st round pick (1.6)



1.1 – Rick Nash

Rick Nash went on to play for the Rangers five and a half seasons. He recorded 145 goals and 107 assists for a total of 252 points in those seasons. In the playoffs, he would also put up 14g, 24a, and a total of 38pts in five straight appearances. He was traded at the 2018 deadline to the Boston Bruins for Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 1st, and a 2019 7th round pick. Nash recorded 3g, 3a,-6pts in 11GP in the regular season and 3g, 2a,-5pts in 12GP in the playoffs with Boston.

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1.2 – Steven Delisle



Delisle is being looked at because Delisle was sent back to Columbus in 2012. He was packaged together with Marian Gaborik (2.1) and Blake Parlett (2.2) and sent to Columbus for Derick Brassard, John Moore, Derek Dorsett, and a 2014 6th round pick. Delisle spent the rest of the 2011-12 season with the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL. He was not tendered a qualifying offer to remain with Columbus at the end of the season. Delisle took several tours around the AHL before departing for Europe. He is now with HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga. -End

1.3 – Artem Anisimov



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Arty recorded 40g, 44a,-84pts in three injury-plagued seasons before being traded to Chicago in 2015. He was packaged with Jeremy Morin*, Marko Dano, and Corey Tropp in exchange for Brandon Saad (2.3), Alex Broadhurst (2.4), and Michael Paliotta (2.5).



1.4 – Brandon Dubinsky



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Dubinsky is still with the Blue Jackets. He has provided veteran leadership to a group that, in 2012, desperately needed it. Columbus had not experienced any sustained success and Dubinsky brought that experience and expectation to Columbus. He embraced the city and the team and, while used in a different capacity in 2019, brings a high level of compete to the team every game. -End



1.5 – Tim Erixon



This was just the beginning of Erixon’s journey. He only played 21 games for Columbus before being sent to Chicago in 2014 for Jeremy Morin* (See 1.3 – Artem Anisimov). He is currently playing in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. -End



1.6 – 2013 First Round Pick



Columbus used this pick to take Kerby Rychel (2.6) at 19th overall. Rychel felt that he was not being given a fair opportunity to play in the NHL and requested a trade. Rychel, son of former NHL enforcer and 1996 Stanley Cup Champion Warren Rychel, got his trade a year later and has bounced around various Canadian teams and their AHL affiliates since. He is currently with the Stockton Heat on a one-year contract with the Calgary Flames.

2.1 – Marian Gaborik



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Gaborik never quite lived up to expectations and played less than a year for Columbus. His finesse and skill was (again) not what the Blue Jackets needed at the time. They had found an identity as a hard-working, blue-collar team. He was sent out to LA at the 2014 deadline for Matt Frattin (3.1), a 2nd round pick in ‘14 or ‘15, and 3rd in 2014 (3.2). Gaborik would probably say that the trade was for the best as he would go on to be a key component in the Kings Cup win. He put up 14g, 8a,-22pts in 26 playoff games.

2.2 – Blake Parlett



Parlett was immediately assigned to the Springfield Falcons, Columbus’s AHL affiliate at the time, before being traded to Boston for Carter Camper (3.3).



2.3 – Brandon Saad



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The Chicago Blackhawks last Stanley Cup purge claimed Brandon Saad as its next victim. Saad would go on to set career bests with Columbus putting up 53 points in each of his two seasons with the team. Regardless, Columbus packaged Saad with G Anton Forsberg and a 5th round pick in exchange for Artemi Panarin (3.5), Tyler Motte (3.6), and a 6th round pick (3.7) in 2017.



2.4 – Alex Broadhurst



Broadhurst has made a name for himself in Cleveland from appearing in 216 games (at the time of this writing) and winning the Calder Cup in 2016. He has appeared in two games with Columbus and registered zero points and two PIMs. -End



2.5 – Michael Paliotta



Paliotta played 68 games for the Cleveland Monsters and one game for Columbus in the 2015-16 season. Columbus did not tender him a qualifying offer. He has since bounced around the AHL and is currently with the Stockton Heat on an AHL contract. -End



2.6 – Kerby Rychel



After requesting a trade, Kerby Rychel was shipped off to Toronto in exchange for Scott Harrington (3.4) immediately after the 2016 Entry Draft.



3.1 – Matt Frattin



Frattin would only play four games with Columbus before being traded to Toronto for Jerry D’Amigo (4.1) and a conditional 7th round pick. The conditions were unknown but it seems the conditions were not met as D’Amigo was traded soon thereafter and Frattin mostly played for the Marlies, the Leafs AHL affiliate.



3.2 – Second & Third Round Pick



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Through convoluted draft day trades, these two picks would eventually yield the Blue Jackets defenseman Gabriel Carlsson and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins (mairz-leek-INs). Carlsson is a stay-at-home defenseman and has spent the majority of his time in Cleveland. He developed quickly at first but has since plateaued. Merzlikins has been a phenom with HC Lugano out of Switzerland. He is expected to come over to North America next year and possibly challenge for the starting goalie job in Columbus. -End



3.3 – Carter Camper



Camper played out the rest of the season after being assigned to the Springfield Falcons. After the season, he signed a one-year deal with the Ottawa Senators. Camper would eventually come back to sign with the Cleveland Monsters, the Blue Jackets current AHL affiliate, before being traded to Tucson; Arizona’s AHL affiliate. He was traded for future considerations. Whatever that actually means. -End



3.4 – Scott Harrington



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Until the 2018-19 season, Harrington has been used as a 7th D in Columbus since he was acquired. He has since earned a spot in the lineup and has worked well with a few different partners. He has brought a steady two-way game to the Blue Jackets blue line. -End



3.5 – Artemi Panarin



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The 2016 Calder Memorial Trophy found himself in Columbus after signing a two-year extension with the Blackhawks. His nickname comes from his last name sounding like the fast-casual restaurant, Panera Bread. He is affectionately known as, “The Breadman”. There was a lot of speculation whether his abilities would translate to a Patrick Kane-less Blue Jackets. He smashed expectations by putting up 27g, 55a, and an 82 point line in 81 games played, in addition to seven points in six playoff games.

He has continued his torrid pace putting up 19g, 34a,-53pts in only 46 games. It is no secret that his current UFA status has left the Blue Jackets in a bit of a bind as he could leave for nothing. GM Jarmo Kekäläinen could choose to move him at the deadline as a rental and accruing some pieces for the future. However, the Breadman’s current success almost seems worth the risk should the Blue Jackets make a deep playoff run. -End (?)



3.6 – Tyler Motte



Motte would appear in 31 games for the Blue Jackets; however, he never quite found his footing there. Only managing to post five points in 31 games played and spent the majority of his time on the fourth line. He was traded, with waiver pick up Jussi Jokinen, to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Thomas Vanek (4.2) at the 2018 deadline. Motte has found a modicum of success in Vancouver with 13 points in 48 games played this year.



3.7 – Sixth Round Pick



Columbus used this pick on Jonathan Davidsson from the SHL. Kekäläinen has stated that they expect Davidsson to be an NHL regular sooner rather than later. He should project to be a solid bottom-six player. According to hockeyprospects.com, “he processes the game quickly and makes decisions quickly. He has good vision when passing the puck and leads teammates up ice on the rush.” -End

4.1 – Jerry D’Amigo



D’Amigo was not long for the Blue Jackets and never suited up in the Union blue. After spending 28 games in Springfield, he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for F Luke Adam (5.1). He is currently with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey League (DEL) and doing well with 15g, 21a,-36pts in 41 games.



4.2 – Thomas Vanek



Vanek was as a deadline acquisition by the Blue Jackets in 2018. He put up 15 points in 19 games having found chemistry with linemates Alexander Wennberg and Boone Jenner. His point production took a hit in the playoffs only putting up two points in six games. Vanek left in free agency and signed a one-year deal for a second stint with the Red Wings. -End



5.1 – Luke Adam



Luke Adam left the Blue Jackets as a UFA having spent the majority of the season in Springfield. Adam only dressed for three games with the big club, with no points and four PIMs. He is now with Alder Mannheim of the DEL after spending the past two years there. -End



Final Net Gain for Rick Nash in 2019



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F: Artemi Panarin, Brandon Dubinsky, Jonathan Davidsson, Alex Broadhurst

D: Gabriel Carlsson, Scott Harrington

G: Elvis Merzlikins



A dynamic, elite, game-changing winger; years of a solid contributor and now a fourth line defensive center, who embraced a city and its fans in an up-and-coming franchise; a potential top-nine winger; a fringe NHL player good for a call up; a defensive prospect who has stalled in development, but still has time to grow; a solid third pairing defenseman; and one of the better goalie prospects in the league. Nash’s decision to push the Blue Jackets forward might still be up in the air based on current uncertainties within the organization. It would be unfair and wrong to say that he did not push the Blue Jackets into a new era, opening a new chapter for the franchise.



Sometimes People Deserve to Have Their Faith Rewarded



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On January 13, 2019, Rick Nash’s reputation in Columbus had come full circle. He started as a wide-eyed 18-year old, carrying a team, franchise, and city on his back, to the villainized goalie shover and fighter of beloved new players, to a folklore hero of a long-suffering franchise on the rise. Nash embraced the city before it was cool and helped raise the level of expectation for its club.



Throughout his tenure in other cities, he still comes back to Columbus, living there every offseason, and now where he and his wife will raise their children. It isn’t lost on the fans of Columbus just how much Nash loves the city. This could not have been epitomized further than spotting a smiling Nash at an OSU Men’s Ice Hockey game the day before he dropped the puck in Columbus. The future is his, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him brought back into the folds of the team that drafted him all those years ago. After all, it is only a matter of time until the number 61 hangs in the rafters of Nationwide. Where it deserves to belong.

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“I never said, ‘Thank you.'”

“And you’ll never have to.”

The NHL is always looking to expand its reach to non-traditional markets. One of the most successful methods is star players making a positive impact in their community and on the ice. It’s no secret that Columbus is a college football town first; however, Columbus-grown products are starting to pop up around the NHL. Jack Roslovic, Sean Kuraly, Connor Murphy, Kiefer and Sherwood to name a few. This could not have happened without Rick Nash’s influence. He was the catalyst for making the Blue Jackets more popular in a forgettable time. People came to see him. And Columbus is eternally grateful for that.

Welcome home, Rick.

Feature Image Credit: (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)