Photo Credit: Mike Stobe/Getty Images
I’m sure all New York Rangers fans have heard the phrase tossed around a great deal recently, hailing left winger Rick Nash as Mr. October. Is this a rightful nickname for the player who, in the not so distant past, seemed like a dud in the 2014 playoffs?
This season, however, Nash has certainly seemed eager to prove himself to the Blueshirt Faithful. He’s scored eight goals in seven games, only failing to score against the Carolina Hurricanes. Nash is currently leading the league in goals, and although the season is still extremely young, with the way he’s been playing it’s hard not to expect a lot out of him this season.
Could it be the promise of new life that has breathed spirit into Nash? On October 12th, after scoring against the Toronto Maple Leafs’ goaltender James Reimer, Nash left the game because his wife went into labor, and that day Nash’s first child was born. Can the birth of his daughter be the impetus behind Nash’s current streak? It would be nice to think that he’s doing all of this for his daughter.
Or could it be that he doesn’t want Ranger fans to think of him as a wash out? It’s no secret that Ranger fans are quick to dismiss any player that has a bad run, and Rick Nash is no exception to that rule. After his dismal performance in the post-season, many fans were not hesitant to brush him off as a has-been, yet another player that came to Madison Square Garden to fizz out.
Fast forward to this season, and it’s like Nash is a new player. He’s skating around the ice with much more finesse than we’re used to seeing him exhibit, and he seems to be much more motivated than he was last year. This could be attributed to his summer training program, which consisted of more running, including sprints as well as other drills, than he was previously used to. A new, healthy regime could definitely be the cause of his new found prowess on the ice.
Nash’s career has been plagued by injury and concussions. At the onset of last season, Nash sustained a concussion, marking his second one in ten months. In an interview with the New York Post, Nash admitted that he was uncomfortable from that moment forward putting himself in harm’s way. This led to a more reserved style of play, and it was evident that his game suffered as a result. Coming into this season, however, Nash does not seem so afraid, and this could mean that his past concussions are no longer holding him back due to fear.
Like all Ranger fans, I have all of my fingers and toes crossed that this will be the year we finally bring home the Stanley Cup. Do I think Rick Nash will be the forerunner in taking us there? Yes, I do. With how he’s been playing thus far, it appears that last year’s defeat at the skates of the Los Angeles Kings rattled him as much as it did the fans. Nash seems like he wants to make up for lost time, and now would be as good a time as any to do it. Would I go as far as to call him Mr. October, though? I would not. He’s currently doing well, and I would like to see that continue, but there’s still plenty of time ahead of us.
