Columbus Blue Jackets: Rick Nash Joins Front Office

Rick Nash is making his return to the NHL as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets front office.

Rick Nash made the Columbus Blue Jackets. They were a terrible drafting team for many years, but their prized-possession forward was always the best they’ve ever had. He was a perennial All-Star and basically owns every forward record for the Blue Jackets.

He spent the prime of his career shouldering the entire franchise with very little to show for it. As his career came to an end, Nash made several attempts to try and win a Stanley Cup with a contending team. Unfortunately, all of his attempts were futile.

Fast forward to 2019, Nash retired from hockey in January, and now finds himself back where everything started.

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Announced earlier this week via Twitter, the Blue Jackets have officially hired Nash as Special Assistant to the General Manager. With a lot to do ahead of the 2019-20, Nash and the Blue Jackets have a big offseason coming up.

CBJ Upcoming Worries

While it is nostalgically pleasing to see Nash back with the Blue Jackets, there is no shortage of issues in Columbus.

The big names who are likely on the move are Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. The Blue Jackets were unable to keep their best scoring forward and franchise goaltender, leaving plenty of holes in their roster.

Panarin will be a tough replacement. Not as hard at Bobrovsky, but still very difficult. He was one of their best players and has been an offensive dynamo since coming over to the NHL. His production helped the Blue Jackets generate offense more than anyone else, and it will be interesting to see how the team is able to develop the next in line to fill those holes.

Matt Duchene could re-sign with the Blue Jackets, but there is still no deal done. He is a great skater and also has strong offensive instincts. For him, inconsistency and injuries are major reasons for his stagnant rise. There could be some untapped potential here after Duchene put up some of his best numbers in 2018-19.

In goal, Keith Kinkaid was a solid short-term insurance policy, but he too is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Joonas Korpisalo is only 25 and is set to become a restricted free agent. Based on his time in the NHL, there is a good chance the Blue Jackets can re-sign him. Outside of that, the Blue Jackets have plenty of questions in goal.

If the holes at forward and in goal aren’t enough, the Blue Jackets have four of their youthful defensemen hitting RFA status. Zach Werenski, Ryan Murray, Adam Clendening, and Scott Harrington are all in need of contracts. Werenski is probably the most important signing, but the rest still bring enough to the table, given the need for quality defensemen in the NHL.

With Rick Nash joining the front office, the Blue Jackets look ready to mold their greatest player of all time into a longstanding member of their organization. If he can prove his hockey knowledge and ability can transition into sound decision making as a member of the front office, he could have a strong future with the Blue Jackets.

There is no better offseason for Nash to prove himself. The Blue Jackets have substantial decisions to make and Nash is now in the fire to help make them. By next offseason, we will know just how much Nash was able to accomplish in his first season as a front office.