Rick Nash retires as a Blue Jackets legend

He wore No. 61, but for all intents and purposes, Rick Nash should have worn No. 1 for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
After being the franchise's first-ever No. 1 overall pick, he still sits No. 1 in games played, No. 1 in goals, No. 1 in assists, and No. 1 in points. Heck, he even scored the No. 1 highlight-reel goal in franchise history.
Nash was the first bona fide professional star in a city that had never had one before. He came in like a Rocket - the Richard trophy he won in his second season when he tied for the league lead with 41 goals, still a Jackets' single-season record - and served as the face of the franchise for all nine seasons he was here.
"I would say he put Columbus on the map for hockey," said current CBJ forward Cam Atkinson, who arrived with the Blue Jackets when Nash was the captain. "He's had an unbelievable career and he did a lot for this franchise."
Nash would go on to play for the New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, but it feels like he'll forever be a Columbus Blue Jacket.

Nash announced his retirement Friday after 15 seasons in the NHL. For most, his time as a Blue Jacket will be most remembered. He made five All-Star appearances with the franchise and helped the team to the playoffs for the first time during the 2008-09 season, even scoring the goal that helped cement the first-ever playoff berth.
Fox Sports Ohio broadcaster Bill Davidge, who was the team's radio analyst during Nash's tenure, still considers Nash a friend and marvels at how he filled the shoes expected of him when he was drafted.
"What can you say?" Davidge said. "He comes into a situation where he had to be a star, and he was a star. He had that inner desire. You could tell he was a scorer and you could tell he was a hockey player. You have guys who can skate and everything else, but they lack something. Rick had the greatest hands, he had the greatest compete, he had the size. He could be any player you wanted him to be."
A look back at some of the most memorable moments in Nash's Blue Jackets' career.
He still leads the franchise in games played (674), goals (289), assists (258) and points (547).