Rick Nash

[Pizza]

I have no idea what the discussion is like in the executive box during home games. When it comes to Nash, those comments would very interesting to hear. I wonder if the words "buy out" have been spoken aloud?

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Where are you now on your 'Sather has been great since the lockout' concept from two years ago? Seems like you've been anti-Sather between then and now. Which side of the fence are you falling on now?

Appropriately enough for this thread, Sather lost my HF advocacy when he blew up that 2011-2012 homegrown team for Rick Nash. I have liked what he's done since then, specifically the Gabby and Cally trades.

So I'm sort of on the fence with him right now. A week ago, I thought this team was done and the Cup window didn't exist, and now we're about to play in the ECF. So hopefully it works out. Hopefully Nash doesn't prevent us from winning. But that I'm still very concerned about.

 

[TheTakedown]

Yeah, but the thing is that what you write can either be the least controversial post ever or something I definitely don't agree with -- depending on what conclusions you draw from it.

I mean, there is a ton of people in this thread comparing him to a 4th lineer, calling for him to be scratched or bought out.

I mean, Nash has 52 shots, 3 posts, and has played a lot of hockey the last 14 games. Nobody can argue that he shouldn't have put a couple of pucks in the back of the net (which would have put him at the top of our scoring race). I mean he is in the midst of a classic slump and of course he is responsible for that. -- But there is a helluva diffrence between facing a slump and being dumped. --

And like, Hank was in a slump earlier this season too and half the boards wanted him gone too. So its no unusual at this place. But I just don't always think that you have to stay with the flow and agree with this stuff. I called Hank out too for playing bad, but I always accompined it with a reassurance that he was -- still -- a good goalie that would come back. And exactly like with Nash, and like I pointed out at the time, there were several aspects that could be pointed at with Hank too.

I just think we should be patient with Nash. From my point of view, we make our own bed with him. As it is now, the team is playing well and other lines are playing well, but in this equation we ice a 1st line that isn't able to score a lot of goal. We could try Nash with Zucc or Brass or shift lines or build a PP around him to try to get him going, like many teams often do, but would it make us better as a team if we got him in a scoring position again while tearing apart other functioning units? I don't believe so and I don't think AV is making that call either. And when you don't give a star special threatment, you risk getting what we are getting right now.

See, with Nash its more than stats. you have to go with the eyeballs on that one..

you watch nash with the puck and he ends up being the worst player on the ice... i mean, even Boyle has better puck handling skills than him at the moment. If these entire playoffs have shown one thing, it's that Nash is NOT instrumental to our Playoff Success... It sounds ridiculous, and you can defend Nash with all the stats you want, but I want you to actually LOOK at production on the ice... there's a reason you don't see highlights of him these playoffs, because he's done nothing worth of a highlight reel moment.

Nash has been robbed, and I mean legit robbed of a goal about 3-6 times... A few Mason glove saves, badly positioned one timers, breakaway with no shot, etc...

but those instances where he gets the puck and shoots a weak wrister right into the goalie's chest, or hell, even the "shoot it through the crease" crap he pulled in game 6 (or 7?) against Pitt... that's unacceptable for a "goal scorer"...

He's an overhyped, overweight, partially engaged, 2 way player... enough of the goal scorer crap. we don't need to call Nash what he isn't...

BUT, what we do need to do is move him next season. he's worthless, and quite frankly we could not only recoup some of the lost picks we've encountered, but also restock our prospect pool, especially after he pots 20-25 next season

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Appropriately enough for this thread, Sather lost my HF advocacy when he blew up that 2011-2012 homegrown team for Rick Nash. I have liked what he's done since then, specifically the Gabby and Cally trades.

So I'm sort of on the fence with him right now. A week ago, I thought this team was done and the Cup window didn't exist, and now we're about to play in the ECF. So hopefully it works out. Hopefully Nash doesn't prevent us from winning. But that I'm still very concerned about.

However bad Nash has been (and hes been just about as bad as can be), I still think he demands respect from the opposition. And just his mere presence has opened up things for the Brassard line.

 

[slipknottin]

I have no idea what the discussion is like in the executive box during home games. When it comes to Nash, those comments would very interesting to hear. I wonder if the words "buy out" have been spoken aloud?

Why would you buy out a player with trade value?

 

[Kakko]

BUT, what we do need to do is move him next season. he's worthless, and quite frankly we could not only recoup some of the lost picks we've encountered, but also restock our prospect pool, especially after he pots 20-25 next season

What?

His value is low, so we should move him? That's just... what?


He scored at a 40 goal pace last year. A 33 goal pace this year, despite the struggles.
You honestly think he'll score 20 goals/

 

[Kel Varnsen]

However bad Nash has been (and hes been just about as bad as can be), I still think he demands respect from the opposition. And just his mere presence has opened up things for the Brassard line.

I hope so, and I haven't advocated scratching him, but part of the way I think he's hurting us is simply by not putting pucks in the net. He is taking up 7.8 million from the cap, when you're getting paid like that that means we're not able to pay someone else. With 7.8 million you can easily find more production than we've had with Nash this postseason. And that hurts us.

 

[Section 409]

Yeah yeah yeah, and Hank was done any ECHL goalie was better and what not lol.

First of all, I never said Hank was done, I am one of the long standing supporters of him, and it has nothing to do with anything. That was a strawman if I ever saw one.


As far as mentioning Nash and Lundqvist in the same sentence, it just shouldn't happen on the level of comparison. He never had a stretch this bad, ever. You can continue to me excuses for a guy that gets paid like a superstar, but I choose to see the fact that he has given us less than 4th liners at this point when it counts.

You can blame Stepan, AV, or whoever you want. When you're paid the way he is, you're supposed to make other better, not the other way around. The excuses are a joke and an embarrassment at this point.

 

[TheTakedown]

What?

His value is low, so we should move him? That's just... what?


He scored at a 40 goal pace last year. A 33 goal pace this year, despite the struggles.
You honestly think he'll score 20 goals/

no, i am NOT saying we sell low on him. that is horrific asset management.

What I am saying is that when playoff time comes, Nash doesn't step up. We saw it last year, and we see it this year... Either way, I'm sick of watching this loser drag down his line mates (which you can easily argue for or against, and I am for it)... Regardless of whether or not he plays well in the regular season, your highest paid player cannot be getting a free pass to score zero goals in the post season. there's something majorly wrong.

I'm saying that Nash should bust his ass this offseason, get in shape, play well, and then should be sold at next deadline, when his value goes back up

I hope so, and I haven't advocated scratching him, but part of the way I think he's hurting us is simply by not putting pucks in the net. He is taking up 7.8 million from the cap, when you're getting paid like that that means we're not able to pay someone else. With 7.8 million you can easily find more production than we've had with Nash this postseason. And that hurts us.

Caught your post too late, but this was my answer as well

 

[Pizza]

Why would you buy out a player with trade value?

Fair point.

If things continue exactly as they are, what kind of trade value do you think he has with that salary?

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Nash has something like 1g in 30 games? Unacceptable for a player of that caliber.

At some point he needs to get to the next level. He's playing timid and conservative. We need a force to be reckoned with. He has that capability. For some reason, he's not playing with that fire. We saw that fire for about a 20 game stretch right before our home stretch in the regular season. He was impossible to guard. Now he's just galavanting all over the ice performing triple axels or whatnot.

I won't boo him, nor will I disrespect him, but he needs to be a top 3 player for this team... and he has less goals this post season than Kevin Klein. Can't have that.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Why would you buy out a player with trade value?

Nash has trade value? Who on earth would trade for him at this point?

Concussion issues (and he's playing like he's afraid of another concussion), huge cap hit for four more years, huge salary, which unlike Richards' contract which has some $1 million salary seasons tacked on at the end for cap hit purposes, Nash actually gets paid MORE the next few years - $8 million, then $8.2 million.

Nash is at his lowest point trade value wise, not producing and now even more of a proven playoff disappointment than he was four weeks ago.

Trade value?

 

[BarbaraAlphanse]

Nash has trade value? Who on earth would trade for him at this point?

Concussion issues (and he's playing like he's afraid of another concussion), huge cap hit for four more years, huge salary, which unlike Richards' contract which has some $1 million salary seasons tacked on at the end for cap hit purposes, Nash actually gets paid MORE the next few years - $8 million, then $8.2 million.

Nash is at his lowest point trade value wise, not producing and now even more of a proven playoff disappointment than he was four weeks ago.

Trade value?

Don't be dramatic. Ridiculous post.

 

[gardenparty]

Has anyone posted or does anyone know how Nash has fared against Carey Price this year? I know you can throw regular season stats out the window when it comes to the playoffs, especially for Nash, but just wondering if say, he's enjoyed a higher PPG average against Montreal, or plus/minus, shots etc. Just hoping to latch onto whatever morsel of optimism I can find.

Mea culpa here:

a) I'm lazy
b) don't have time to look it up myself and
c) the milk carton I saw him on this morning doesn't provide those stats.

 

[Evgeny Oliker]

Nash

First ,he needs to forget about round 1 and 2. This is a new round, new start for him.


Second, he needs to change the way he plays, plain and simple. I read recently that he ranks 70th in terms of distance from the net for his shots on goal. That's ridiculous. You can shoot as much as you want, but if most of your shots are from close to the blue-line, you will not score much.

Basically, he needs to get to the net more. I've seen him do it so its not like he can't. He is big and has a long reach. His first few steps are kind of not great. So the key for him is to get the puck in stride and keep skating. That is when he is at his best. When he just stands there and gets the puck, its ugly to watch.

He can also just go to the net for rebounds and deflections once in a while, it can't hurt. He just needs to initiate more instead of waiting for his linemates to initiate. It's not rocket science with him...he is capable of all these things.

I hope AV or MSL or someone with some balls has a talk with Nash before this round...stop cuddling this guy and tell it like it is to him!

 

[slipknottin]

The thing I thought that used to separate Nash from the other guys his size was Nash's stick handling. He controlled the puck like he had it on a string.

When was the last time we saw that? Even against average defenders now they seem to have little trouble getting the puck from him.

It's almost as if he has some sort of arm injury.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

The thing I thought that used to separate Nash from the other guys his size was Nash's stick handling. He controlled the puck like he had it on a string.

When was the last time we saw that? Even against average defenders now they seem to have little trouble getting the puck from him.

It's almost as if he has some sort of arm injury.

He hasn't found much open space on the rush but hey, thats the playoffs.

And the rare times he has found that space, hes made the dumbest/least aggressive play possible.

 

[RGY]

He hasn't found much open space on the rush but hey, thats the playoffs.

And the rare times he has found that space, hes made the dumbest/least aggressive play possible.

Agreed BRB. Teams have suffocated him and swallowed up his space out there IMO. Even when he has had some space in front of him at times, the closer defender will close the gap quickly because that defender was eyeing him. The second defender has been gravitating to the middle more just in case Nash gets by. Then Nash does that stupid spin move turning his back to the two of them. You have not seen Nash get any breakaways, the defense just won't have any mental lapse when he is on the ice it seems.

But like you said earlier BRB, his mere presence has opened up the game for the other lines. I'm glad AV separated MSL from Nash. That was extremely necessary. Kreider will continue to help Nash because his speed stretches the ice and it pushes the defense back more which opens up a little more space for Nash and with his shot that could be all that he needs to get on the scoresheet.

The bottom line, Nash needs to find a way.

 

[InHenrikWeTrust]

If I'm Rick Nash I'm taking a long hard look in the mirror these next couple of days and being grateful that the team is where they are despite him. With that in mind he needs to light a match under his own ass and bring it this series. Price is no MAF and will be on his game, we need all the offensive threats we can manage and Rick Nash with no questions needs to produce this series. Its why he is here and its why he is getting 7.8 million dollars this year.

 

[GAGLine]

Has anyone posted or does anyone know how Nash has fared against Carey Price this year? I know you can throw regular season stats out the window when it comes to the playoffs, especially for Nash, but just wondering if say, he's enjoyed a higher PPG average against Montreal, or plus/minus, shots etc. Just hoping to latch onto whatever morsel of optimism I can find.

In 3 games against montreal this year, we scored 1 goal, by Callahan from Richards and Stepan.

We went 1-1-1 against them, giving up a total of 3 goals. Nash only played in 1 of those games, the 1-0 overtime loss in montreal to end the season. Nash had 7 shots on goal.

Lundqvist was in net for the first game, a 2-0 loss at home. Talbot was in for the next 2 (1-0 win and 1-0 loss in OT), both in montreal.

 

[JCrusher*]

In 3 games against montreal this year, we scored 1 goal, by Callahan from Richards and Stepan.

We went 1-1-1 against them, giving up a total of 3 goals. Nash only played in 1 of those games, the 1-0 overtime loss in montreal to end the season. Nash had 7 shots on goal.

Lundqvist was in net for the first game, a 2-0 loss at home. Talbot was in for the next 2 (1-0 win and 1-0 loss in OT), both in montreal.

I dont put too much stock in the two losses against teh habs. in both games we were missing a ton of key players especially the last agme where we sat a lot fo key guys out AND MCD/Kreids were hurt

 

[GAGLine]

I dont put too much stock in the two losses against teh habs. in both games we were missing a ton of key players especially the last agme where we sat a lot fo key guys out AND MCD/Kreids were hurt

Neither do I, just putting it out there because someone asked.

Nash has tremendous skill, but he's not a great hockey player. He wins very few board battles. When he does decide to engage physically, he often takes poor angles such that he gets the hit, but not the puck. When the puck is on his stick, he over-handles it, often trying to stickhandle through multiple defenders and even around the goalie at times instead of just shooting it. He doesn't play a smart, team game.

 

[Ola]

See, with Nash its more than stats. you have to go with the eyeballs on that one..

you watch nash with the puck and he ends up being the worst player on the ice... i mean, even Boyle has better puck handling skills than him at the moment. If these entire playoffs have shown one thing, it's that Nash is NOT instrumental to our Playoff Success... It sounds ridiculous, and you can defend Nash with all the stats you want, but I want you to actually LOOK at production on the ice... there's a reason you don't see highlights of him these playoffs, because he's done nothing worth of a highlight reel moment.

Nash has been robbed, and I mean legit robbed of a goal about 3-6 times... A few Mason glove saves, badly positioned one timers, breakaway with no shot, etc...

but those instances where he gets the puck and shoots a weak wrister right into the goalie's chest, or hell, even the "shoot it through the crease" crap he pulled in game 6 (or 7?) against Pitt... that's unacceptable for a "goal scorer"...

He's an overhyped, overweight, partially engaged, 2 way player... enough of the goal scorer crap. we don't need to call Nash what he isn't...

BUT, what we do need to do is move him next season. he's worthless, and quite frankly we could not only recoup some of the lost picks we've encountered, but also restock our prospect pool, especially after he pots 20-25 next season

Yeah, the worst player on the ice in every game leads the POs in shots. Do you understand how absurd that statement is?

I mean, I can understand people living in a dream world when it comes to hyping players.

But it puzzles me when guys like you do it to puke at someone.

I've seriously had it with place. You guys litterary makes me sick.

 

[Pizza]

Don't be dramatic. Ridiculous post.

Considering his performance the last 14 playoff games, not so ridiculous.

Please answer the question.

How does a guy who barley engages. Who does not score goals. (The thing he was brought here to do by the way.) Who does next to nothing game after very important playoff game, with a no trade?, $7.8 million dollar contract have significant value?

 

[GAGLine]

Considering his performance the last 14 playoff games, not so ridiculous.

Please answer the question.

How does a guy who barley engages. Who does not score goals. (The thing he was brought here to do by the way.) Who does next to nothing game after very important playoff game, with a no trade?, $7.8 million dollar contract have significant value?

Because those 14 games aren't the totality of his career. You don't think there's a GM out there who thinks that Nash is playing well and is just snakebit? He's leading the entire league in shots on goal in the playoffs. Yes, part of that is because we've played more games than anyone else, but he's still getting opportunities, some of them very good opportunities, despite other teams doing their best to shut him down.

How much value did Gaborik have when he wasn't scoring for us last year? Quite a bit, as it turns out, because columbus believed, rightly or wrongly, that Gaborik could return to form and help them. It's silly to think that there isn't a team out there who wouldn't think the same of Nash.