Blue Jackets hire Rick Nash as special assistant to GM

Drew Nantais

Blue Jackets hire Rick Nash as special assistant to GM image

Rick Nash is back in Columbus.

The former No. 1 overall pick was hired by the Blue Jackets as a special assistant to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, the team announced on Thursday.

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"It's come full circle," Nash told BlueJackets.com. "Even though I loved my time in New York, Columbus was always home. It just feels like this is the way I should cap off a career is moving back here and working with the Jackets."

Nash played 15 combined seasons in the NHL for the Blue Jackets, Rangers and Bruins. Ongoing symptoms from a concussion suffered in March 2018 forced Nash to retire from professional hockey in January.

The six-time All-Star is Columbus' all-time leader in games played (674), goals (289), assists (258) and points (547).

Drew Nantais