CBJ to retire Rick Nash's number

[Axeman33]

https://twitter.com/BlueJacketsPR/st...v73ZugNMw&s=19

NEWS: Blue Jackets to retire Rick Nash’s number 61 prior to game vs. Boston on March 5, 2022. He is the first player in club history to be so honored. #CBJ https://t.co/GqjybPfQbx

Lots seem to be happy about this but I'm like meh, and I'm a closet Blue Jackets fan.

[tweetdrivr]

I think everyone is a closet Jackets fan. They have always been very likable. Ive been to a number of games in Columbus and their arena is great and the downtown is lovely. Always a great experience.

[dejeanneret]

I like it for the Blue Jackets and their fans. Each franchise has their own first "star" player, and Nash was theirs. They had good minor league hockey in Columbus for years, but Nash was the face of hockey in that town for a long time and, in my mind at least, their most memorable player. Hell, I still think of Rick Nash first every time I think about the Blue Jackets.

Good on them and good for Nash. I always enjoyed watching him -- especially when he was in Columbus.

[Invictus]

Lots seem to be happy about this but I'm like meh, and I'm a closet Blue Jackets fan.

It's not like there's a mad rush to wear #61.

[pmorrow]

He was for a time a pretty dominant power forward. He would have had better numbers with a better team early in his career, even if he overall still was a little underwhelming at times production-wise. But 437 goals in 1060 game is nothing to sniff at - 72nd all time, just below names like Alfie and Kovalchuk. Two Olympic golds on his resume. Obviously didn't have much team success in CBJ but the retirement is respect to him for his hockey career as a whole I think.

[Feenom]

I have jackets in my closet. As close as I’ll come to being a fan of that team. But good on him, Brampton boy.

[Invictus]

I have jackets in my closet. As close as I’ll come to being a fan of that team. But good on him, Brampton boy.

But are any of them Blue?

[Feenom]

But are any of them Blue?

Being a Leaf fan yes. It's in there surrounded by skeletons.

[hockeyrobot]

Don't mind it at all. Was a stud while there and really the only reason to watch them play for a number of years.

[2014olympicgold]

Considering he likely was the reason why CBJ is still a team, he deserves it for that organization.

[Godin]

LOL Why? He had 2 point per game seasons as a #1 pick overall.

[Godin]

It's not like there's a mad rush to wear #61.

Yeah. May as well then.

[agentzero]

It feels like there is a rush lately to retire numbers... like we'll run out of time or something... The sport itself has only been around like 100 years and change. In all of human history that's nothing.. will there be any numbers left in 2321?

Seems like the bar is lowered for these. He was a great player, but number retired?.... I dunno...

[Invictus]

I think he had a lot of intangibles that don't show up on the score sheet come into play.
I'd be more worried about other teams running out of numbers than I am Columbus

[tweetdrivr]

LOL Why? He had 2 point per game seasons as a #1 pick overall.

He did also have like 9 30 goal seasons and 3 40 goal seasons...including one in the dead puck era. Both of those accomplishments put him in the company of a number of players who have had their numbers retired by older more storied franchises. He’s clearly the best and most important player in the history of the franchise. Seems fine to me.