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Columnist: Rick Nash’s final days in Columbus barely causing a stir

Rick Nash

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2012, file photo, Columbus Blue Jackets’ Rick Nash (61) watches a face off during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The NHL trade deadline is next week and contenders have to decide if they want to risk the future to win now. Columbus captain Rick Nash is available and it seems every team is in talks with the Blue Jackets about acquiring the star.(AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

AP

If these are indeed the last games Rick Nash plays in a Blue Jackets jersey -- and judging by how acrimonious things got at the NHL trade deadline, it seems likely they are -- he’ll probably look back on his final days in Columbus with a lack of fondness.

Why? Because fans are showing an equal lack of fondness, according to Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch.

Nash played in his 669th game and registered his 541st point as a Jacket last night. The team he has represented for all of his nine NHL seasons defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-2 before a crowd of 12,432 in Nationwide Arena. Half the patrons wore red.

The Jackets have five games remaining in what has been, by most measures, the worst season in their history. They have two more home games, Friday night against Kevin Dineen’s Florida Panthers and on April 7 when the New York Islanders visit for the season finale.

How boldly nondescript: Nash, the face of an anonymous franchise, will be playing his last Jackets game against a faceless opponent.

Nash requested to be moved prior to the trade deadline. Since general manager Scott Howson could not find a proper ransom by Feb. 27, Nash was left to culminate his captaincy with a six-week, lame-duck lap. It is almost over.

To be fair to Nash -- who Arace describes as “our city’s best professional athlete” -- he’s tried to be exactly that: Professional. He’s said all the right things, maintained his captaincy and continually praised the Columbus fans for supporting him and the team over the last nine years.

“The fans have been great,” Nash told the Dispatch. “It could have gone a much different way, and I realize that. But like I’ve said before, we’ve been through a lot here, me and the fans, and I appreciate their support more than anything.”

The problem now, though, is that the fans are tapped out. This has been arguably the worst year in Blue Jackets history, which is saying something for a franchise that’s lost 40-plus games in six of 11 seasons. Arace notes that people are “scalping glass-level seats for $15" and, even though Nash has tried to save face, most can’t ignore his transgressions.

He did ask out of town, after all.

So with the Jackets playing out the string in front of a disillusioned fan base, there’s only one question left to ask. Is there any chance Nash could stay in Columbus?

“It’s a great question,” he told Arace. “I can’t answer. I will say that as long as I’m a Blue Jacket, I will give 110 percent for the organization and the fans, and that is the truth.

“I have no idea what will happen. I honestly don’t. My focus is on the 22 guys here and winning as many games as we can for the fans.”

Hey, at least he’s still saying all the right things.