Blue Jackets promote Rick Nash to director of hockey operations

On Friday, Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell announced the team has promoted former NHLer Rick Nash to become the director of hockey operations.

Nash, who was originally taken by the Blue Jackets with the first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft, has rejoined the organization in June 2019 after retiring from playing. He started off as a special assistant to then-general manager Jarmo Kekäläinen before he was promoted to director of player development in June 2021.

“Rick Nash is an extremely bright guy who has become an important part of our hockey operations leadership group,” Waddell said in a release. “He is very passionate about the Columbus Blue Jackets and this community and has been a great resource for me since I arrived here in late May. Rick made a significant impact on this organization as a player and will continue to do so in his role as director of hockey operations.”

As the director of hockey operations, Nash will be involved in all aspects of the team’s department and will continue to oversee the advancement and development of players within the organization.

This is not the first time the Brampton, Ontario native has held a big role with a hockey team. This past year, he was the GM of Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF Men’s World Championship in Czechia, where the Canadians made it to the bronze medal game, losing to Sweden. He was also the assistant GM for Canada at the 2022 Worlds in Finland, where the team took home the silver medal.

The team also named Basil McRae the director of pro scouting. The longtime NHLer came to Columbus in the 2013-14 season as a scout. In 2016, he became the Blue Jackets’ director of player personnel, a role he held for three seasons before being promoted to assistant general manager, a job he held until this season.

Columbus also announced that Zach Abdou has been hired as senior manager of hockey operations. Abdou previously worked with Waddell during his time with the Carolina Hurricanes, holding various hockey operations roles since 2021. He was hired as the team’s first hockey operations coordinator before being given the title of manager of hockey and business operations.

In his role with the Blue Jackets, Abdou will assist in database management, forecasting and budgeting, as well as contract analysis.