Overview
Name: Rick Nash #61
DOB: Jun 16, 1984
Born: Brampton, Ont., Canada
HT: 6-4
WT: 215
Drafted: 1st overall in 2002
Columbus Blue Jackets
2006/2007 Season Totals:
75 GP | 27 G | 30 A | 57 PTS | -8 | 73 PIM |
Awards & Accomplishments
NHL:
03-04/06-07 Played in NHL All-Star Game
2003-04 NHL - Maurice "Rocket" Richard (shared with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk)
2002-03 NHL - All-Rookie Team
2002-03 NHL - NHL Young Stars Game
2001-02 OHL - Top Draft Prospect Award
2001-02 OHL - Third All-Star Team
2000-01 CHL - All-Rookie Team (Canadian Major Junior)
2000-01 OHL - Emms Family Award (Rookie of the Year)
2000-01 OHL - First All-Rookie Team
International:
2007 - World Hockey Championship MVP
2007 - Gold Medal - World Hockey Championship - Moscow
2005 - Gold Medal - World Hockey Championship - Vienna
2002 - Silver Medal - World Junior Hockey Championships - Kralove
Overview
I've always been asked who my favorite player in the National Hockey League is, and my response since 2002 has been Rick Nash. I don't know what exactly made him my favorite, if its his scoring ability or his physical play or a combination of both. I always liked the Western Hockey League style of play the physical player who works his ass off in the corners, and eventually scoring that big goal or making that big play. Rick Nash has always had amazing scoring instincts and being able to be in the right place, at the right time to put the puck in the back of the net, 116 goals in just four NHL seasons including the Maurice "The Rocket" Richard Trophy in 03/04 (shared with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk). Unfortunately his total points per-season has diminished over the past few seasons.
His success over the years in not only the Ontario Hockey League where in 2000 he won the Rookie of the Year award by scoring 31 goals, and adding 35 assists for 66 points in 58 games, he was well on his way to becoming a star in the OHL.
Unfortunately, recently his production has deminished cause of injuries in recent years. Due to his physical nature his been plagued by knee and ankle injuries for the past few years which is unfortunate for many fans unable to see this young man's gift for playing the game of hockey.
He is not only a gifted young individual, but also a fantastic person off-ice. Being involved with many charities, and events done through the Columbus Blue Jackets organization he's definitely a class act.
He's served his country well, when called upon for many of Canada's International events. In 2002, he traveled to Kralove and won a Silver Medal in the World Junior Hockey Championships. In 2005, he won Silver in Vienna in the World Championships followed in 2007 by a Gold Medal in Moscow, Russia and tournament MVP. Look out for Rick Nash in 2010, where I hope he will be apart of the 2010 Olympic hockey team in Vancouver, hopefully capturing a Gold Medal.
I love everything about Rick Nash, his style of play, his leadership abilities and most importantly his off-ice personality and generosity. I am looking forward to following him this upcoming season, and hopefully he gets back to scoring goals, and eventually making the playoffs so everybody can see what he can really do!
Due to his physical nature his been plagued by knee and ankle injuries for the past few years which is unfortunate for many fans unable to see this young man's gift for playing the game of hockey. Skunk Control