Rick Nash, Director of Hockey Operations

Rick Nash was named the club’s director of hockey operations in September 2024. He returned to the Blue Jackets as a special assistant to the general manager in June 2019 before being promoted to the club’s director of player development in June 2021.

In his new role, the 40-year-old is involved in all aspects of the team’s hockey operations department and continues to oversee the development and advancement of players throughout the organization.

Nash spent his first nine NHL seasons with Columbus after the club selected him with the first overall pick at the 2002 NHL Draft and served as the club’s captain from 2008-12. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, goals, assists and points as he registered 289-258-547 and 568 penalty minutes in 674 games from 2002-12. On Mar. 5, 2022, he became the first player in franchise history to have his number - 61- retired.

Nash was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie and an All-Rookie Team selection in 2002-03. He won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal scorer in 2003-04 when he notched 41-16-57 in 80 games and received the NHL Foundation Player Award in 2008-09 for his contributions off the ice and in the community. He appeared in five All-Star Games as a Blue Jacket (2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) and one as a Ranger (2015). In 1,060 career NHL games, he tallied 437-368-805 and 750 penalty minutes with the Blue Jackets, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins.

The Brampton, Ontario native was a stalwart for Canada in international competition as he represented his country at three Olympic Games (2006, 2010-gold and 2014-gold), four IIHF World Championships (2005-silver, 2007-gold, 2008-silver, 2011) and one IIHF World Junior Championship (2002-silver). He also served as the general manager for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Championships in Czechia and earned a silver medal as the club’s assistant general manager at the 2022 IIHF World Championships in Finland.

He and his wife, Jessica, are the parents of sons, McLaren and Finn; and daughter, Ellie. The family resides in New Albany.