Nash Selected First Overall at NHL Entry Draft

Toronto – Rick Nash of the London Knights was the first player selected in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft Saturday at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Nash after trading picks with the Florida Panthers. The clubs also traded first round picks in the 2003 Entry Draft.

Nash, who turned 18 six days ago, was the second highest rated North American prospect by NHL Central Scouting behind defenceman Jay Bouwmeester of the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers.

“It was amazing,” said Nash following the selection. “I was sitting there, just thinking about Bouwmeester going first to Florida, and the next thing you hear, there’s been a trade. My stomach sort of went but I didn’t know for sure yet.”

The Atlanta Thrashers selected Finnish goaltender Kari Lehtonen with the second pick before the Panthers selected Bouwmeester third overall.

Nash, who has scored 63 goals and 138 points in two seasons with the Knights, is looking forward to an opportunity to earn a spot on the Blue Jackets roster in the fall.

“That’s my goal, to play next year, and I’m really looking forward to coming to Columbus,” Nash said. “It’s going to take a lot of hard work over the summer.”

“Nash was our number one guy all year and I didn’t want to miss him,” said Columbus general manager Doug MacLean. “It’s very seldom that you get the first overall pick and you can control your own destiny. We feel with (Marc) Denis, (Pascal) Leclaire, (Rostislav) Klesla and Nash we have a nice start and as far as I am concerned, if we get a contract done, he will be on our team in September. I look forward to the day when I see Nash, Kiel MacLeod and Tim Jackman playing in Columbus.”

Nash suspected he would be selected by Columbus, who was looking for a top-notch offensive talent. The Blue Jackets scored the fewest goals in the NHL last season.

“I’m really happy to be here and (am) very excited,” said Nash. “It’s a great organization that seems like a great situation to step in to, so I’m very happy.”

– Aaron Bell

Click here for More on the 2002 NHL Entry Draft