Bruins Acquire Rick Nash From Rangers

BOSTON - Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today, February 25, that the team has acquired forward Rick Nash from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Ryan Spooner, forward Matt Beleskey, defenseman Ryan Lindgren, a 2018 first-round draft pick and a 2019 seventh-round draft pick. The Rangers will retain half of Nash's remaining salary, while the Bruins will retain half of Beleskey's remaining salary.
Nash, who is in his 15th NHL season in 2017-18, has appeared in 60 games with New York, tallying 18 goals and 10 assists for 28 points. The 6-foot-4, 211-pound forward has spent the last six seasons with the Rangers and enjoyed his best season with the club in 2014-15, when he notched a career-high 42 goals and 27 assists for 69 points with a career-best plus-29 rating. Nash came to New York via trade in the summer of 2012 after spending his first nine seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Nash is expected to join the team in Buffalo and will be eligible for tonight's game.
Don Sweeney will be available to media prior to tonight's game in Buffalo at KeyBank Center. Exact time and location to be confirmed later today.

Nash is the Blue Jackets' all-time leader in games played (674), goals (289), assists (258) and points (547). The 33-year-old winger earned the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2003-04 after scoring an NHL-best 41 goals. He is a six-time All-Star (2003-04, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15) and a two-time Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada (2010, 2014).
Nash has skated in 1,049 career NHL games with New York and Columbus, totaling 434 goals (fifth among active players) and 365 assists for 799 points. He has also appeared in 77 career postseason games, recording 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points.
The Brampton, Ontario native was originally selected by Columbus in the first round (1st overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
Spooner, 26, has nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points in 39 games with Boston this season. The 5-foot-10, 184-pound forward has appeared in 253 career NHL games, all with Boston, and has recorded 41 goals and 101 assists for 142 points.
Beleskey, 29, has appeared in 14 games with Boston this season, and has also produced four goals and two assists for six points in 21 AHL games with Providence. The 6-foot, 203-pound forward has compiled 75 goals and 82 assists for 157 points in 472 career NHL games with Boston and Anaheim.
Lindgren, 20, has two goals and five assists for seven points in 33 games with the University of Minnesota this season. The 6-foot, 198-pound defenseman was selected by Boston in the second round (49th overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.