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Nash thinks he played more ‘complete game’ in 2013-14

Rick Nash

Rick Nash

Rich Lam

If you judge Rick Nash exclusively by the number of points he records, then there’s no question this has been a comeback campaign for him. After suffering two concussions in a calender year in 2013, Nash went on to score 26 goals and just 39 points in 65 contests last season. He already has 23 goals and 36 points in 34 contests in 2014-15.

Although he’s only trailing Tyler Seguin in the Rocket Richard race, Nash isn’t entirely happy with his performance thus far. In fact, in some respects he thinks he’s actually regressed this season, per the New York Daily News.

“It’s funny,” Nash said before Monday’s 3-2 loss to Dallas. “I was watching video of this season, and my complete game is not what it was last year. There’s so much more I can do in a lot of different areas, and sometimes I can’t pinpoint why the pucks go in.”

His frequent linemate Derick Brassard would disagree with Nash as he believes the star forward’s complete game has actually improved. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault also praised Nash for the work he did over the summer. He’s given Nash a chance to play a bigger role in shorthanded situations this season and has been rewarded for it.

At the same time, Vigneault likes the fact that Nash is being critical of himself.

“Rick’s mindset is the right one,” Vigneault said. “That is what the team mindset has to be, which is we need to get better, and when you’ve got one of your top-end players looking to get better, that obviously rubs off on everybody else.”

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