Blue Jackets name Rick Nash Director of Player Development
The Columbus Blue Jackets have made a flurry of hockey operations moves involving former players.
Most notably, Rick Nash has been named the organization’s Director of Player Development. Nash has spent the previous two seasons working as a special assistant to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen.
The No. 1 overall pick from the 2002 draft, Nash is the Blue Jackets’ leader in both goals with 289 and points with 547. He played nine seasons in Columbus before getting traded to the New York Rangers in 2012.
Elsewhere, the Blue Jackets are hiring former players Mark Letestu, Derek Dorsett, and Brad Thiessen to join player development staff. Thiessen is replacing Jim Corsi, famous for tracking shot attempts to consider a goaltender’s workload, as goaltending development coach.
Kekalainen said in a statement on Wednesday that all four additions are passionate about the Blue Jackets and the city of Columbus…
“We are always looking to strengthen our hockey operations group and these moves do just that, particularly in the area of player development,” said Kekalainen. “In Rick, Derek, Mark and Brad, we have four former players with a combined 34 years of experience in the NHL and 17 in the AHL, as well as having played major junior and college, so they will be able to share a wealth of knowledge and experience with prospects throughout our organization. They are also passionate about the Blue Jackets, our city and what we are building here.”