Nash, Voracek return to city where NHL careers began

COLUMBUS -- There are two players who were drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets and have more than 300 career NHL points, and each is in the city this weekend for the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game.

Rick Nash is widely acknowledged as the best player in team history. Selected No. 1 in the 2002 NHL Draft, he became the first franchise player for the precocious organization, and the team's best player for nearly a decade before being traded to the New York Rangers.

Jakub Voracek was the first pick by the Blue Jackets in 2007, the year the NHL Draft was held in Columbus. After being selected seventh overall, Voracek began to develop into a solid player, but he didn't become a star until after the Blue Jackets traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of a package for Jeff Carter in 2011.

Both have returned to the city where their NHL careers began.

"I love coming back to the city," Nash said. "It is always strange to come back for hockey because I suited up in this rink for nine, 10 years, but it is fun to see the capital of the hockey universe be Columbus."

"I know this city pretty well," Voracek said. "I know some of the restaurants to go to. And I guess there are a couple bars that people like."

It was the end of an era when the Blue Jackets and Nash decided to part ways. In part because of the additions of Carter and James Wisniewski, Columbus had great expectations in 2011-12, but finished with the worst record in the League.

Nash went to the Rangers in a trade the following that season. He's been back in Columbus a few times, but not for an event of this magnitude.

"I'm over the boos. It doesn't affect me," Nash said. "I felt like I put a lot of work into this, to this city, to this organization. I played half my career into Columbus, and to build hockey the best I can in the area. Seems to be taking off pretty good.

"It was just a strange feeling. And it's still a strange feeling coming into this building. I always miss Columbus. I always miss the city. It holds a special place to me and my family. It always will."

The Blue Jackets reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2014 and won a postseason game for the first time in franchise history. Nash and the Rangers reached the Stanley Cup Final, and this season, he's among the contenders for the Hart Trophy.

Nash has 28 goals, which is tied for the League lead.

"Rick is a great player," New York Islanders all star forward, John Tavares said. "His consistency over his career is tremendous. He has always been a hard player to play against. His size and his skill, his speed, his hockey IQ to get available to score goals and create plays and room for others. … He's a big reason why the Rangers are having the season they are."

Nash and Voracek were once linemates in Columbus, but both have flourished apart. Voracek leads the NHL with 56 points.

Voracek set career highs with 23 goals and 62 points in 2013-14. Although the Flyers have scuffled, Voracek and Claude Giroux have sizzled. Giroux is tied for third with 51 points.

"I'm not surprised at all," Nash said. "I could see from the time [Voracek] was a young player he had all the talent in the world. It was a matter of maturing, and gaining confidence. He's got all the tools to be the best player in the world.

"There are some good duos. They are right up there with [Sidney] Crosby/[Evgeni] Malkin, [Joe] Thornton/[Patrick] Marleau, [Ryan] Getzlaf/ [Corey]Perry. Giroux and Voracek, if they're not the best, they are right there."

Voracek was part of a group of young players expected to join Nash and propel the Blue Jackets into contention. That group included Derrick Brassard and John Moore, who are now teammates with Nash in New York, but also Ryan Johansen, who has assumed Nash's place as the face of the franchise and is also an all star.

Nash and Voracek didn't find the team success they hoped for in Columbus, but they are back and will have a chance to reflect on their time here and what they've accomplished since leaving.

"I grew up here a little bit," Voracek said. "I was 19 years old and this is where I lived. They made me feel comfortable and welcomed, and you remember that. It's special for me to be here, of course. It's the All-Star Game, but being Columbus ... that's good, too."