Rick Nash sponging up front office experience with Blue Jackets, ‘not in any rush’ to be a GM yet

The Columbus Blue Jackets began an organizational facelift during the winter of last season when they relieved general manager Jarmo Kekalainen from his duties. The changes in the front office continued in the spring, when president of hockey operations John Davidson stepped aside into an advisor role, paving the way for Don Waddell’s arrival. Assuming the roles of president of hockey ops and GM, he was the ushering in of a new era for the Blue Jackets.

Among the changes that followed Waddell’s arrival to Columbus’ front office was the elevation of Rick Nash. After serving as director of player development for three seasons, Nash was promoted to director of hockey operations this past September. Overall, Nash has been working in the Columbus’ front office since 2019, beginning his executive career as a special assistant to the GM.

It is no secret that there is, very possibly, a future for Nash as a GM in the league some day down the line. While in discussion with Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin last spring, Nash admitted to wanting to be a GM; it is no secret that Columbus’ upper management is giving him the opportunity to obtain such a goal, with added responsibilities coming with his new title.

“Everything has kind of stayed the same working with our development,” Nash told Daily Faceoff. “Following our prospects, helping management. As day to day goes, be around the NHL team and be more involved. But for now it’s still more on the prospects side.”

The Blue Jackets have been on the outside looking in of the playoff picture since 2020. Under a new leader of hockey ops in Waddell and a new head coach in Dean Evason – the fourth hire, if we’re counting Mike Babcock, since the dismissal of John Tortorella in 2021 – Columbus has entered an unofficial rebuild. The plan of every organization is to ultimately get back into the playoffs, but it’s important to do it in a manner that can result in being more than just a “playoff team.” The timeline to get the Jackets back to the postseason can’t be rushed. The Jackets have drafted inside the top 10 of the NHL Draft in four consecutive seasons, adding to the pipeline and, theoretically, helping to expedite the trajectory.

“We need to grow within; we’ve had some high draft picks the past couple of years,” said Nash. “It’s important that they develop properly and that we’re patient with them. They’ll have a huge impact at the NHL level eventually.

“We want to pick up big pieces along the way and hopefully that contributes to us getting back on track to competing every single year.”

After a better than expected start to the year, Columbus has regressed to last in the Metropolitan Division. After winning just three of their last 10 and having just one win on the road this season, the Blue Jackets find themselves tied for last in the Eastern Conference with the Montreal Canadiens at 14 points.

Despite the recent negatives, there is reason for optimism in Columbus – especially offensively. And with the long term outlook being paramount, there are signs that some positives are sustainable beyond this season. We know the big names like Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger and Zach Werenski and their impacts (both in the present and future) to the organization, but there are other names that have emerged as bright spots.

“I think Dean Evason and his coaching staff have done a great job of getting the players to buy into his system and the work ethic he brings everyday,” said Nash. “Our young guys like Yegor Chinakhov and Kirill Marchenko have had a great start to the season. It’s exciting for us with prospects coming; I feel like our young guys have really taken steps.”

Nash’s role elevation came under Waddell almost instantly, and it certainly seems like it was by design. No disrespect to Davidson and Kekalainen, but Waddell’s resume speaks for itself; there is a reason that he is regarded as one of the best hockey executives around. An opportunity to work under Waddell is something that not many up and coming executives get to see through.

“It has been great working under Waddell,” said Nash. “I’ve been lucky to work under guys like John Davidson and Jarmo Kekalainen, even Bill Zito who was here – it was nice to learn off of those guys when I first got my feet wet. Even working with Kyle Dubas at Hockey Canada along with Shane Doan. But then you had to do that with Waddell coming in here, getting to learn off him with his legendary career and how respected he is. It has been an eye opener how hard he works.

“Learning how deep he watches the game, how he handles the business side – it has all been great.”

As Nash alluded to, he has already had the chance to work with Hockey Canada as a GM. Having had a taste of what it has been like sitting in the big chair, there is a sense of what responsibilities and tasks that come with the job.

But being a GM is so much more than any of us can truly know. The ins and outs of the day-to-day operations, personnel decisions, dealing with other GMs, negotiating contracts – it really is never ending. That is why when an executive assumes this type of role for the first time, you need to be prepared for what you’re getting into, making sure you’ve learned everything you wanted to shore up before taking it on.

“You’ve got to try and always grow,” Nash said. “I learned so many great things from Jarmo Kekalainen. Going and scouting with him; going to tournaments and many different games. Being around him in the office, seeing how he handles himself – on both the hockey and business side as well. Now getting the chance to learn off of Don Waddell is invaluable. I’m not in any rush, I want to go through all of the different positions.

“At this time it’s going be about gaining experience. Everyone is going to have a different style on how they lead an organization. I can relate it to being a captain and playing with a bunch of different captains; there are different ways of handling yourself. Getting all of this great knowledge from Don, Jarmo and all the others I previously mentioned. If the opportunity ever comes up I’d love to have my chance, but in the meantime I’m going to be a sponge and learn.”

The sky is definitely the limit for Nash as an executive, and he is just getting started. He has had the opportunity to work under great executives already and will get to continue that under Waddell. The elevation in role just a few months after Waddell’s hiring is indicative of the organization’s view of Nash long term; just think of where he can go in several years.

The Blue Jackets are in the process of steering out of a precarious rebuilding stage and back into relevance in the NHL. As they continue to grow and develop the on ice talent, we may be seeing a similar path for Nash as one of the league’s fastest rising executives overseeing the team’s stars of tomorrow.

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Rick Nash sponging up front office experience with Blue Jackets, ‘not in any rush’ to be a GM yet

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