A painting of Rick Nash hangs in the office of Blue Jackets interim coach Claude Noel, an abstract piece of art in which one would struggle to identify the player within the frame.

The picture perfectly captures Nash’s career. Seven seasons in Columbus and Jackets fans still are not exactly sure what to make of the team’s best player. He is an enigma wrapped in a CBJ sweater.

Is Nash a top-15 player in the league? Sometimes. Is the Blue Jackets’ captain an effective leader? Maybe. This much is clear: Nash is a nice guy and ever-improving playmaker who might simply need a healthy dose of big-time success to finally bring his work into focus.

Winning Olympic gold as a member of Team Canada may well be that dose. Just as Mario Lemieux took a huge step forward in his NHL career by scoring the winning goal in the 1987 Canada Cup, Nash has a chance with his Olympic success to take his career from good to better. And to take the CBJ along with him.

Blue Jackets Fredrick Modin and Sammy Pahlsson both said they benefited from being a part of Sweden winning gold at the 2006 Olympics.

“It helped me in terms of experience, to go through a thing like that,” Modin said. “I’m not going to say I became a better leader after winning the gold medal, but it made me feel really good. Rick is going to experience a lot of emotions and be feeling very confident about what he has accomplished, and that stuff rubs off on teammates right away. So that’s a positive for us.”

Click here to read the full article – By Rob Oller of Columbus Dispatch

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Columbus Blue Jackets Sports Memorabilia
and other Columbus Blue Jackets Autographs
Below are links to memorabilia available for popular Columbus Blue Jackets players.

Tim Konsorada Autographs and Memorabilia

Rick Nash Autographs and Memorabilia

Fredrik Norrena Autographs and Memorabilia

The Columbus Blue Jackets have locked up their franchise player, signing star winger Rick Nash to an eight-year, $62.4 million deal.

The deal averages $7.8 million a year. Nash has one more season left on his current deal so the extension doesn’t kick in until the 2010-11 season. When the extension starts, he will become the highest-paid player in franchise history.

“Rick made a significant statement to Columbus and for Columbus in terms of how he feels about playing here,” Columbus general manager Rick Howson said. “He loves Columbus; he never wanted to leave. That’s what made me so optimistic all along that we could sign him to an extension.”

Click here to read the full article – By Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com

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Columbus Blue Jackets Sports Memorabilia
and other Columbus Blue Jackets Gifts and Collectibles
Below are links to memorabilia available for Rick Nash.

Rick Nash Autographs and Memorabilia