Rick Nash still experience concussion symptoms … and speculation on the Maple Leafs
Rear Admiral: (yesterday) A source said that Rick Nash will file the paperwork and announce his retirement from the NHL.
Darren Dreger: Rick Nash’s agent Joe Resnick on the speculation that Nash is going to retire: “There is no truth to the tweet that Rick Nash is retiring today. Our position has not changed since July 1.”
Aaron Portzline of The Athletic: Rick Nash hasn’t retired from the NHL despite speculation. He said that his concussion symptoms haven’t entirely subsided. He’s still waiting to see if things change and if he can keep playing. Nash said he misses the game and it finding it really tough to not be playing.
“But my family is what’s most important to me, and I have to get my health in the right spot before I figure out what my plans are, and I don’t know when that will be.
“There’s a chance I could get healthy, come back and be great. But there’s definitely a chance that I don’t.”
If Nash is able to return, the Columbus Blue Jackets could be one of five or six teams that would be interested in signing the free agent.
Shawn Simpson: “I’m feeling a Rick Nash reporting to the Marlies in the New year, signs with the Leafs for the stretch drive and playoffs, at the league minimum.”
Chris Nichols of Nichols on Hockey: Bob McKenzie was on TSN 1050 this morning talking about Rick Nash.
McKenzie has no “specific knowledge” of the idea that Nash could end up signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs at some point.
Nash has said that he’s still experiencing symptoms and is not in a position at this time to think about where he might play.
“So I don’t think there’s any flight of fancy in terms of ‘sign with the Marlies and do this.’ He’s got to get healthy, and that’s the first and foremost thing. He and his wife had their third child in the summer. He had plenty of options to sign multi-year deals for multi-millions of dollars in the summer, and chose not to do it because he knew that he wasn’t quite right from a medical point of view, and he continues to be that.”
From Aaron Portzline’s interview with Nash, we know he’s spoken with Blue Jackets John Davidson and Jarmo Kekalainen, and he does live there.
“I can tell you this: Mike Babcock loves Rick Nash. Had him at the Olympics. Loves the way he plays and what have you. But for me it’s a non-starter as a discussion point because he’s not feeling well enough right now to contemplate a return to the game.
“And until that happens, it’s all just speculation and talk.”
