Rick Nash Participates In Optional Skate, But Is Expected To Miss Tuesday's Game

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- What on earth is wrong with Rangers forward Rick Nash?

The 28-year-old has missed the last three games (all of which were Rangers losses), and he's expected to miss his fourth consecutive game on Tuesday night when New York hosts Winnipeg.

The first overall pick in the 2002 NHL Draft did return to the ice on Tuesday morning, however, during an optional skate.

Many have speculated that the Canadian is suffering from a concussion, but he wouldn't admit anything on Tuesday when he was asked what's been ailing him.

"Umm, I'm not a doctor," Nash told The Record. "It's tough for me to analyze that. It wasn't something where I could look at myself and say I had that issue. That's up for the doctors to decide."

Nash did tell the New York Daily News, however, that "a lot of different things" have kept him off the ice as of late.

He didn't expound much on that statement, as expected.

"I don't really want to go into specifics, specific things that it exactly was, but there was a bunch of things going on where I wasn't good enough to play," Nash said, according to the newspaper.  "I've been banged up quite a bit, and obviously just didn't feel I could compete out there. But after last week and today it's definitely (headed) in the right direction, and it's a big positive."

Nash was traded to the Rangers in the offseason in a package that sent Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Tim Erixon to the Blue Jackets.

In his first season with the Blueshirts, the 6-foot-4, 213-pounder has three goals and nine assists in 14 games played.

Are you angry that the Rangers haven't been more upfront about Nash's status? Sound off with your thoughts and comments below...