Hartnett: Rick Nash Remains Crucial To Rangers' Hopes Of Winning Stanley Cup

By Sean Hartnett
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The Rangers could have solved their long-term cap concerns by making Rick Nash and his $7.8 million cap hit disappear this summer. Nash's full no-move clause expired on June 30, meaning that he is subject to naming 10 teams whom he would approve a trade per the terms of a limited no-trade clause.

There are 61 days until the Rangers open the 2015-16 regular season against the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks at United Center on Oct. 7 – and there's a reason why No. 61 is still wearing blue, red and white.

The Rangers' front office and coaching staff believe that Nash is on his way to unlocking his full potential on the playoff stage.

Nash has just 32 points and is shooting a woeful 4.8 percent in 60 career playoff games, but Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault says that's all right because he's gained valuable playoff experience.

In other words, Nash can only get better.

"At the end of the day, and I had that talk with him today, every playoff, he's improved," Vigneault said on the team's June 1 breakup day. "He was an older player when he got to New York with only four games (playoff) experience. He's getting better. He understands his contribution is real important. I think he's only going to improve."

The evidence was there for all to see during the 2015 playoffs. Nash finished with 14 points in 19 games. His 0.74 points per game was higher than Detroit Red Wings go-to guy Pavel Datsyuk, Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos, Washington Capitals ace Alex Ovechkin, and either of the Sedin twins.

To judge Nash purely by his goal scoring is missing the entire picture of what he brings to the Rangers. As Vigneault put it: "He does so many other things, too."

While the Rangers' possession numbers fell during the playoffs, Nash was a possession-driver when matched up against the opposition's top defensive pairings. He was physically engaged at all times and played a heads-up defensive game. At the time the Rangers were eliminated from the Eastern Conference finals, Nash ranked third among all playoff skaters with 15 takeaways.

Following Game 2 of that series against Tampa Bay, alternate captain Dan Girardi spoke of how Nash used his physicality and intelligent positioning to create goal-scoring opportunities.

"I think he's playing great right now," Girardi said. "He's using his body, he's taking pucks to the net, and 'D' with him. Someone's gotta occupy him every time he goes in front of the net. That creates a good screen for us."

One can only wonder how Nash would have fared had difference-making right winger Mats Zuccarello been available for the conference semifinals against the Washington Capitals and finals against the Lightning. Zuccarello missed the entirety of each seven-game series after being struck on the left side of his head by a Ryan McDonagh slap shot during Game 5 of the Rangers' first-round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Zuccarello's absence forced Vigneault to mix-and-match his line combinations. Vigneault detailed Zuccarello's importance to the Rangers' line balance and their power-play success in an interview with WFAN's Mike Francesa following the team's playoff exit.

"If we lost one of top-six guys, it will be difficult to score, and Mats was one of our top-six guys and one of our PP guys," Vigneault said. "We had a lot of line shuffling to do and we were able to get through the Pittsburgh series, get through Washington and there is no doubt we tried different options. Some were better than others, and every team is banged up. You hope that you have enough depth and that the injuries that you do get aren't for a lengthy amount of time. In Mats' case, it was for the remainder of the season."

Although Zuccarello suffered a brain contusion and lost the ability to speak for four days, he is expected to be 100 percent ready for training camp, which begins on Sept. 17. The first line of Nash, Derick Brassard and Zuccarello was dynamite for the Rangers last season. Should Zuccarello return to full health, the trio has the potential to perform as one of the NHL's best top lines.

It would have been a mistake for the Rangers to have made a major offseason shakeup after only being 20 minutes away from reaching a second Stanley Cup Final. Though the cap crunch forced the Rangers to trade away valuable third line winger and expert penalty killer Carl Hagelin and Martin St. Louis opted to retire at age 40, the Blueshirts head into the 2015-16 preseason with last season's roster largely intact.

Nash remains as crucial as ever to the Rangers' Stanley Cup puzzle. At the prime age of 31, there's a strong chance he repeats his excellent regular season production of 69 points (42 goals, 27 assists, 79 games).

Nash only trailed Ovechkin and Stamkos in regular season goals. His regular season advanced statistics are proof of his ability as a possession-dominant forward. He led all NHL skaters in individual 5-on-5 Fenwick per 60 minutes at 16.97 and only trailed Ovechkin in individual 5-on-5 Corsi per 60 minutes at 21.98.

With playoff experiences gained, 2015-16 could be the season that Nash finally fulfills his true potential and wins over the segment of skeptical Rangers fans.

Follow Sean on Twitter at @HartnettHockey