Tortorella praises ‘great pro’ Nash as Blue Jackets honor winger

COLUMBUS, Ohio — There have been a lot of dark times for Rick Nash over the previous few months, but it was all smiles for one night.

Nash, the former Rangers all-star winger, announced his retirement Friday due to lingering complications from a career full of concussions. But he was out on the ice at Nationwide Arena next to his wife and three young children Sunday night, dropping a ceremonial first puck before the Rangers’ 7-5 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Nash, 34, was drafted by Columbus with the No. 1-overall selection back in 2002, and played the first nine seasons of his career here. He is the franchise leader in a couple of important categories, including games played, points and goals scored. He still calls this city his home for most of the year, and the ovation from the crowd was overwhelming.

Nash came to the Rangers in a blockbuster trade during the summer of 2012, and played five-plus years on Broadway. That included a year with John Tortorella as his coach, when the team flamed out in a second-round loss to the Bruins and Tortorella was fired.

Now the head coach of the Blue Jackets, Tortorella remembered that time fondly.

“I know what he meant to me in New York. He was just a great pro for me there, didn’t say boo, played, killed penalties. He did everything there,” Tortorella said. “I’ve watched his career from afar when not coaching him, and I just have a tremendous amount of respect for him, as far as what he does. I watched him in the Olympics.

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“It’s too bad that we’re going to lose a player the way he plays. I think he has some more years left, but obviously he feels it’s time to step away.”

It wasn’t so much Nash felt it was time to step away, but he was advised to do so by his doctors following the trade from the Rangers to the Bruins before last year’s deadline and another concussion in March. He played in Boston’s 12 playoff games, but his final game came in a May 6 loss to the Lightning.

As far as his current medical situation, Nash said he is “dealing with it,” but his agents put out a more declarative statement when they announced his retirement.

“Under the advice of his medical team, the risk of further brain injury is far too great if Rick returns to play,” is part of what Top Shelf Sports Management tweeted. “Rick would like to thank everyone who has supported him during this difficult time period.”