Rick Nash to become first member of Blue Jackets to have number retired
The Daily Goal Horn
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Rick 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 their game against the Boston Bruins on March 5.
“This is incredibly exciting, not only for Rick and his family, but for our entire organization and our great fans,” Blue Jackets president of hockey operations John Davidson said in a news release. “Only one player can be the first to have their jersey retired by a franchise and with everything that Rick has meant to the Blue Jackets it is fitting that he is the one.”
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).
“Rick Nash was the face of our franchise and our best player for a decade and represented our club on and off the ice with excellence, class and humility,” Owner John P. McConnell said.
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.
–Field Level Media