NHL

Serby’s Sunday Q & A with… Rick Nash

With NHL training camp finally set to begin after long lockout, new Rangers winger Rick Nash took a shot at a Q&A session with Steve Serby.

Q: You’ve only played in four playoff games while with the Columbus Blue Jackets. How pumped up are you to be here with a chance to play in a lot more than four playoff games?

A: If you would have told me when I was drafted I would play 10 years and be 28 and only have four playoff games under my belt, I wouldn’t be too happy or believe you really, but … that’s the way my career went, and I can’t do anything about it now. All that’s behind me, so I don’t even think about that anymore. I’m just looking forward to being here, being part of this team, and doing anything I can to help these guys in any way they need it.

Q: How much of a threat is this Rangers team to win the Cup?

A: Watching last year was impressive. They had an amazing season, but I’m sure if you ask everyone in there, it was hard, it was hard to play that well all the time. And it seems like they got all the pieces, so it’s just gonna be a matter of if we can play the same exact same way that they played last year.

Q: Would you characterize yourself as a sniper?

A: I don’t know. … Snipers usually score (chuckle) great goals, and hard shots. … I’m more of a power forward going to the net, finishing my checks, just kinda going into the hard areas to score.

Q: When you met Mark Messier, did he have any advice for you, or words of wisdom?

A: It just seems like everyone — talking with Messier, [Brian] Leetch, a couple of those guys — and they all just seem to say that this is a great city to play in, and it’s even better when you win here. They really take you in if you go out there, you give it your all, play hard, play to win, they take you in.

Q: You were 10 years old when Messier won the Cup.

A: I remember watching it, ’cause obviously Vancouver was in it, and I wasn’t a Vancouver fan but just having a Canadian team in it, it’s all over Canada. You can’t change the channel without seeing it.

Q: Do you remember him holding the Cup up?

A: Yeah. … I think the biggest memory is all the stuff that was all in the papers when he guaranteed the win [Game 6 against the Devils] and then carried on to the Final.

Q: Describe the first time you played in the Garden.

A: I remember I scored one of my nicest goals of probably my career. We were shorthanded, [Jaromir] Jagr came in, I stripped him of the puck, flew down the left side, went around the knee toe drag and put it top glove.

Q: Do you have any flavor for what Rangers fans are all about?

A: Yeah, I heard about it last year (chuckle) when I was here. So I obviously understand the passion that they bring to the rink, and I think it’s great.

Q: You heard about it specifically how?

A: Oh when they were chanting my name that they didn’t want me (smile).

Q: Why wouldn’t they want you?

A: Well, at the trade deadline. Then I just scored a goal to tie the game.

Q: What were they chanting?

A: “We don’t want you.” I definitely understand the passion behind Ranger fans.

Q: I think they’ll be chanting something else when you score a goal.

A: Well I hope, “We’re happy we got you.” (Smile).

Q: What do you think of Brad Richards?

A: Great passer. Seems like he brings out the best in everyone he plays with. He’s always looking to set you up, which is great for me ’cause I’m trying to shoot a lot.

Q: Chris Kreider?

A: He can skate. He can shoot. He’s got all the tools. It’s pretty impressive to have a prosperct like that.

Q: Ryan Callahan?

A: We didn’t play the Rangers much in Columbus, but every time we did, he was gritty and he was tough to play against. Just from observing in the room, it seems like everyone respects him, and that’s what you want as a captain. It’s impressive for a guy like that, he’s a younger guy too, to earn that respect of everyone on the team.

Q: Henrik Lundqvist?

A: He’s a world-class goalie, and that’s what you need to win in the NHL..

Q: John Tortorella?

A: Everything I’ve heard is he’s passionate, he’s intense, he’s honest, he’s gonna tell you if you’re playing well, if you’re not playing well. And as a player, that’s all you can ask. He’s gonna motivate you. He’s gonna get you going. I heard he’s a tough guy to play for, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Q: What is your on-ice mentality?

A: I would say I’m focused on what I have to do to help the team the most — whether it’s block a shot, make a hit, get a puck feed, get an offensive chance, make a good defensive play. Whatever the situation is in the game, I think I’m always focused on what’s best for the team.

Q: What was it like when Columbus made you the first overall pick of the 2002 NHL draft?

A: It was special, ’cause it was in Toronto, too, so all my family and friends were there. I remember I was meeting with Columbus, and they told me they didn’t think they’d have a chance with me because they picked No. 3. And I remember sitting with Doug [MacLean, Blue Jackets GM] and I said, “Well, hopefully I’m still there at that point.” The next day right when I heard that they traded to No. 1, I didn’t know for sure but it was about 80 percent sure that they were trading up to get me because they told me that the night before. It was definitely something I’ll never forget.

Q: What kind of pressure is that, being the No. 1 overall pick?

A: It was a lot of pressure. Especially coming into Columbus, where they didn’t really have a winning season, and they expected me to jump right in right away and have an impact. So I was lucky — I played with guys like Andrew Cassels, and Tyler Wright, Mike Sillinger. … These guys were veterans that had been around, and I was pretty lucky to jump into a situation like that, where they kinda took me under their wing. … As an 18-year-old, moving to a totally different city that you don’t know, it’s not only hard on the ice, but it’s tough off the ice, too, so I was lucky to have those guys.

Q: What did being named captain there mean to you?

A: It was pretty special. I felt like it was my turn to step up there. I was the longest-serving player at the time. … I think I was only 23 or 24 at the time, which was pretty young for a captain back then. I thought I was ready, and it was an honor. … It brings a whole other element to the game. Everyone’s watching you before, but now you’re worrying about 20 other guys, too, and you have them under your wing. … A new guy gets traded, someone leaves … it’s all your job to make sure everyone’s comfortable.

Q: Did you give any memorable fiery speeches or pep talks?

A: You’ll have to ask the other guys if they were memorable (smile), but … I was more of a lead-by-example. … I would speak up when I had to, when I felt the time was right, but … we had some good captains while I was there. … Playing with guys like [Steve] Yzerman and [Joe] Sakic at Olympics, the one thing I took is that the guys that were quiet and led by example. And then when they did say something? It really meant that much more, I found. … Luke Richardson, when he stood up and talked, you knew it was serious, and everyone listened. I learned a lot of that from him, and that’s really what I was kinda like.

Q: You took out a full-page ad in the Columbus Dispatch thanking the fans.

A: I made a lot of friends. … The organization was good to me. They got me off my feet, kicked off my NHL career. But the main thing was the fans stood behind me. It was a tough six months last year, of what I went through there.

Q: Because?

A: Well because everything came out about the trade, and that I asked for … everything just turned into a big mess. And the one thing was the fans stuck behind me, and it was impressive. I was involved in the community quite a bit with charities and all the different things there, and they appreciated it. Sometimes you wouldn’t expect that from fans that just kinda see the hockey side of it, but they appreciated it and it was the least I could do for them.

Q: What is your best single NHL moment?

A: All we needed was a tie to clinch Columbus’ first playoff berth ever, and I scored a goal in Chicago to tie the game up with a minute left.

Q: Worst single NHL moment?

A: I would say, probably the year after the lockout, I had hurt my ankle in training camp, so I missed, I think 20 games, and then my second game back, I blew out my knee, missed another 20 games.

Q: You won two Team Canada gold medals.

A: I won one in Russia at the World Championships, which was very special. We had the youngest team, I think ever, Team Canada sent to the World Championships, and to win in Russia, just that whole rivalry, was unbelievable. Then the Olympics … no one said it going into it, but Canada had so much pressure on ’em, especially after we finished sixth in Torino or seventh, whatever it was. We had so much pressure, and just to handle that in our own country. And then sitting in the dressing room after we won, with our medals around our neck, we were watching a TV of every city in Canada, and it was crazy, the streets were packed. … It was something I never forget.

Q: Was it always your dream to play in the NHL?

A: Yeah it was. It was funny, my mom was going through all the stuff that she kept [from school], and I think it was from Grade 2 or something, and one of the basic questions, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” And right there was an “An NHL hockey player.”

Q: You started playing hockey at what age?

A: My dad had us skating when we were 2 or 3 years old out on the pond behind our house. I’d been going to hockey schools, and then 6 years old is when I first started playing organized hockey.

Q: The name of your first team?

A: Brampton Maroons.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Darryl Sittler, him being a former London Knight, captain of the Leafs; Jack Nicklaus, him being a Columbus guy, grew up on the course that I play at now in Columbus; Terry Fox, he was a Canadian that tried to run across Canada on one leg, lost his leg to cancer.

Q: Boyhood idol?

A: Mats Sundin. I just grew up a Leaf fan at the time, in a suburb of Toronto and him being the captain and all that.

Q: Biggest influences?

A: My parents, No. 1. They’re the ones that figured out a way to pay for me to play hockey, to get me to practice in the morning. After that, I had the same coach, basically [Keith Carrigan], from when I was 10 years old to 16, before I left for junior. It was amazing the things we were doing at 11, 12 years old, the practices we were running, it’s still drills that we do now and in junior. He seemed like he was ahead of his game.

Q: Superstitions?

A: I wouldn’t say too many superstitions, just more routine. It’s “Groundhog Day” every gameday.

Q: Any special pregame meal?

A: Chicken and pasta.

Q: Why did you want to live in Manhattan?

A: I had no idea what New York was like before I got here, and now I love it. Everyone says it’s the best city in the world, and I think it is. There’s something to do every night. … I’m taking full advantage of the situation and getting to see everything I can and enjoy it. … [I’ve] been to a few [Broadway] shows … just walking around, like SoHo area, just kinda seeing the shops. … Christmas was great, went to Rockefeller Center … Central Park, we’ve walked through that. It’s been cool, ’cause I never spent time here before.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: “Shawshank Redemption.”

Q: Favorite actor?

A: [Robert] De Niro.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Eva Mendez.

Q: Favorite singer?

A: Mumford & Sons, Kenny Chesney.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Steak and potatoes.

Q: Golf handicap?

A: About 8 or 9.

Q: You kept in shape during the lockout?

A: Oh, yeah. Ready to go.

Q: Message to Rangers fans?

A: I think it’s gonna be an exciting team. Hopefully a winning team, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun to watch.

Q: What drives you?

A: Love of the game, for sure. I watch every single June, a different team raise the Cup, and just to think that I have that opportunity is what drives me. … [I] picture myself skating around the rink with that thing over my head, is something that’ll keep me going until hopefully I get it.