Rick Nash Projections.

[Jordyr77]

Surprised I didn't see one already. Bounce back or no?? I remember when he first went to New York I was expecting 70+ seasons and him truly emerging as an elite player. Threw in a little poll.

[pmorrow]

I think he'll scrape 60. 32 goals 28 assists or so. He takes a million shots, there's no way he continues his slump from the playoffs.

[Neverender9]

I can see a mild bounceback, but nothing much higher than 65 points. The key will be watching his SOG totals.

[Jordyr77]

He's been shying away from hits a lot lately, maybe the concussions have scared him a bit and he's changing the way he plays (maybe in a bad way).

[jcairns]

He's been shying away from hits a lot lately, maybe the concussions have scared him a bit and he's changing the way he plays (maybe in a bad way).

He did initially, but not anymore.

He "shied" away from hits after the concussion. Once the concussion became a distant memory, he began throwing the body.

Who is ready for the crazy stat of the day? Rick Nash had 45 hits in 25 playoff games this year.
Obviously playoffs are different, but that gives you reason to believe we might be back to the old Rick Nash (capable of putting up 80-100 hits a year).

[pmorrow]

Who is ready for the crazy stat of the day? Rick Nash had 45 hits in 25 playoff games this year.
Obviously playoffs are different, but that gives you reason to believe we might be back to the old Rick Nash (capable of putting up 80-100 hits a year).

I wish I had looked at that stat on draft day. Wowza.

[lucifer316]

he was 8th in G/60 among players with 25 or more games this past season at 5 on 5

a couple of things killed him

first a decided lack of assists, 13 assists in 65 games is a far cry from the 30 he generally hovers around most seasons

second he wasn't utilized in an effective fashion on the PP, his 7 points on the PP, compared to 19 for Richards, 18 for Steps and Brass and 17 for Zucc was pretty pathetic

as for him not playing in traffic after the concussion and his subsequent playoff hitting, the goal totals don't support an issue with him not playing in traffic in fact one of the things I noticed was how easily he transitioned his game to one that was more of a perimeter game, remember his 26 goals prorates to 33 in 82 games and he is basically a 30-35 goal player

as for the playoff hitting he was trying to find a way to impact the games since he was not producing, the hitting he was doing in the playoffs wasn't quite the same as the old bull in a china shop way he entered the zone and knocked players over on the way to the net, it remains to be seen how much of that comes back to his game but given his ability to change to a perimeter game and continue to score at his regular pace I really don't think it matters much

I think 70+ is about where I would peg him for next season, 35-40 goals and 35-40 assists

[Shoeless]

I think it is optimistic to see a 70 point season but I think 65 is doable - he is still a horse when it comes to taking shots and that didn't translate well last season - I suspect with Richards gone that his chances will increase on the powerplay.

[kevinsrangers]

im guessing 30g / 35a. id bet he performs better on the pp this year as dan boyle and an adjusted st.louis should help their terrible pp.

[evans334]

id bet he performs better on the pp this year as dan boyle and an adjusted st.louis should help their terrible pp.

This is what I'm hoping for as well.

[MarmotKing]

I think he'll be low 60s this year.

[vitun-tyhmä]

Around 60 pts, close to half and half.

[mounD]

70+ imo. Bold prediction, I know.

[havanablast21]

I think he'll scrape 60. 32 goals 28 assists or so. He takes a million shots, there's no way he continues his slump from the playoffs.

Around 60 pts, close to half and half.

Agree with pmorrow and Vitun(the posting fenom)