Rick Nash of Brampton, Ontario had his number 61 retired by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday. According to the Columbus Dispatch, Nash becomes the second player in the four major professional sports to have his number retired. He follows Chicago Bears linebacker Bill George of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, who was the Bears’ linebacker from 1952 to 1965.
Nash had 289 goals and 258 assists for 547 points in 674 games with Columbus from 2002 to 2012. He also had 568 penalty minutes, 182 power-play points, 19 shorthanded points, 44 game-winning goals, and 2278 shots on goal.
Nash is the all-time Blue Jackets leader in many categories. They include games played, goals, assists, points, power-play goals (83), even strength goals (192), game-winning goals, and shots on goal.
In 2003-04, Nash led the NHL with 41 goals and 19 power-play goals. He actually shared the Rocket Richard Trophy that season with Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers and Jerome Iginla of the Calgary Flames.
In the playoffs, Nash had one goal and two assists for three points in four games in 2008-09. This was the first Blue Jackets playoff series in franchise history. Columbus was swept in four straight games by the Detroit Red Wings.
On the ice on Saturday, Columbus lost 5-4 to the Boston Bruins in a shootout. Brad Marchand of Halifax, Nova Scotia led the Bruins in scoring with two points as he had two assists.
