COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Columbus Blue Jackets will retire Rick Nash’s No. 61 jersey Saturday at Nationwide Arena and the club is asking fans to arrive early.
Face off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, but the team is asking fans to arrive at 5:30 p.m. for the ceremony. Gates into Nationwide Arena will open at 5 p.m.
Members of the band O.A.R., including lead singer Marc Roberge, who is a longtime friend of Nash, will perform the national anthem Saturday.
Nash’s No. 61 jersey will be the first number retired specifically by the club, although Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99 jersey is retired by the entire NHL.
The club announced in November that Nash would be the first to have his number retired by the Blue Jackets.
Nash, who the Blue Jackets traded up to get at No. 1 in the 2002 NHL Draft, was with the Blue Jackets through 2012. After a decade of the CBJ failing to win a playoff game, Nash told then-General Manager Scott Howson of his desire to be traded before the 2012 trade deadline.
Howson informed the media of Nash’s desires after the Blue Jackets failed to move Nash at the trade deadline. Nash, who was a clear fan favorite, was forced to answer questions about his desire to stay in Columbus.
Following the 2011-12 season, Nash’s request was granted and met with some disapproval from fans who booed his return as a member of the New York Rangers.
But after Nash completed his playing career, he was welcomed back to Columbus with wide-opened arms. Nash was hired as a special adviser to General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen in 2019 and was named the franchise’s director of player development in June 2021.
Nash is the Blue Jackets’ all-time leader in nearly every major offensive category, including goals, assists, points, shots on goal, game-winning goals and power play goals, according to team stats. He also has worn the Blue Jackets’ sweater more than anyone with 674 games played.
He was also the face of the franchise in its infancy, and was the first bona fide star in club history.
The Blue Jackets said that his jersey will be retired before the March 5 game before Boston, team Nash finished his NHL career with.
“Rick Nash was the face of our franchise and our best player for a decade and represented our club on and off the ice with excellence, class and humility,” said Blue Jackets Majority Owner John P. McConnell. “No one is more deserving of this honor than he and we are looking forward to celebrating Rick and his family in what will be a historic and memorable night for all of us on March 5th.”
