[A Calder Trophy finalist last season, Nash hopes that his new bulk will enable him to muscle in goals around the net and do anything else to help turn around a team that limped to a Western Conference-worst 69 points. Columbus lost its top point-scorer when former captain Ray Whitney signed with Detroit, but his exit opened a spot for Nash on the second line. He will skate alongside speedy center Todd Marchant, who had career highs in goals (20) and assists (40) with Edmonton last year.] It's an honor to play with him, ... I grew up watching him and pretending I was him. |
After the first period we played better and came back. [Coach] Gerard [Gallant] gave us a little speech in between periods and we came back. |
Definitely, to be mentioned in the same bracket as those names is a pretty big deal. It's a bit different here in Columbus, we don't have as much media. So to have that media attention is a great thing for me personally but also a great thing for the team and the organization as well. |
Definitely. It's a big honor to get to experience playing against him on the ice and getting to know him with national teams. He's someone I grew up watching in Toronto. Detroit is only four hours down the highway. Every kid wants to mold their game around his - which you obviously can never do. |
Gerard?s the backbone behind us all. He keeps us focused. He keeps us on track. |
He played a brilliant game, ... We were able to at least salvage two points for him. Let's face the facts: If he doesn't play like he does for 40 minutes, we're nowhere near that game. We know it. Everybody knows it. |
He's been a great guy off the ice and on the ice. He's won championships. He knows what it takes. |
His hockey sense. He's always in the right spot. He sees the ice so well. The puck seems to follow him. |
Hopefully, that battle will go on for years to come. |
Hopefully, we get off to a good start and surprise some people. |
I am sure if I was coming through the middle with my head down, anybody would do the same thing to me. |
I didn't even wear it. I couldn't get it on. It was way too tight. I didn't bother. |
I don't really remember having pressure like this. There's always pressure on Canada to win at hockey. We have to accept it and move on. |
I just didn't try to think about it [a sophomore slump]. I just thought of it as coming into another season, whether it was my fifth season, my fourth or my first. I just tried to make it look like that. Lucky enough for me I got off to a quick start. I think that was the main thing, not to fall into a slump early. I'm sure I'll fall into a slump somewhere down the road. I don't think this can last the whole season. |
I just went to the net and saw the puck coming and tried to make it change directions. Lucky enough, it worked out. You go to the net, and good things are going to pay off. |