FanHouse Rick Nash

The Washington Capitals and Columbus Blue Jackets played an overtime thriller on Sunday afternoon, with the Jackets picking up the 5-4 win thanks to R.J. Umberger's game-winner (and second goal of the game) at the 1:45 mark of the extra frame.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Capitals fans isn't the outcome on the scoreboard, but the status of the league's leading scorer and back-to-back MVP winner, Alex Ovechkin, who left the game after playing just 7:43.

FanHouse's Adam Gretz takes a look at his top 50 players in the NHL. No. 20 is Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash.

The Columbus Blue Jackets qualified for the NHL playoffs for the first time in franchise history this past season, and leading the way was team captain Rick Nash with a career-high 79 points. His season was highlighted by a pair of hat tricks against the Detroit Red Wings, including one in an 8-2 rout that featured Nash scoring three unassisted goals. It was the first time a player recorded three unassisted goals in a single game since Rocket Richard in 1948.

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Making the playoffs for the first time was a big step for the Columbus Blue Jackets, a kick in the pants for the fans and the franchise.

Now, however, Columbus will have to repeat the feat -- and make it past the first round -- to meet the increased expectations that that first blush of success has created. And it's Scott Howson's job this summer to put the Blue Jackets in a position to be a postseason regular.

Since free agency started on July 1, the 30 NHL teams have invested over $400 million, whether it be signing an incoming free agent, or locking up their own players to long-term contracts.

If history has shown us anything, it's that some of these deals will prove to be bargains, while others will quickly lead to buyers remorse.

Let's take a look at some of the biggest contracts signed this offseason: Rick Nash, Marian Hossa, Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Marian Gaborik, Martin Havlat and the Sedin twins.

Once he was drafted, Rick Nash quickly became the centerpiece of the Columbus Blue Jackets. It didn't take him long to prove himself worthy of such a label.

Now the Blue Jackets' captain, Nash has blossomed into one of the best players in the NHL. Coming off the team's first-ever appearance (albeit a short one) in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Nash was about to enter his final season before unrestricted free agency. Instead, he's become the highest-paid player in franchise history.

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We continue our division-by-division preview of the potential wheeling and dealing with the Central Division.

The Chicago Blackhawks are trying to build off a magical season. Columbus got its first taste of playoff hockey, while St. Louis returned to the playoffs after a far-too-long absence. Meanwhile, Nashville is trying to rebound after just missing the cut for the Western Conference playoffs.

There was a time when my favorite sport was, without hesitation, baseball. Recently, however, my interest in the game has been lost. Not because of a steroid scandal or the incompetence of Bud Selig, but mostly because the team I grew up cheering for, the Pittsburgh Pirates, has been a Major League Baseball team in name only and is currently working on its 17th consecutive losing season with no end in sight.

You might argue that makes me a fair-weather fan, but I disagree. My interest is so low that if, by some perfect storm -- like the rest of the National League halting operations and disbanding from the league -- the Pirates actually won something, I still probably wouldn't care as much as I should. I just don't care about baseball anymore, but I certainly don't begrudge those who still do. It's still a great game, even if my interest is at an all-time low.

The St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets are the first two teams eliminated from the Western Conference playoffs. The first team knocked out in the East - Montreal - could take a few lessons from how the former two played in their elimination games.

The Blue Jackets went all-in against Detroit Thursday night. They may have dropped a heart-wrenching 6-5 decision, but the way they played won them a lot of respect all around the league, including the opposing dressing room.

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In hockey, the home team gets the last line change before a faceoff. This typically means the coach of that team will be able to pick the line-on-line matchups throughout the game.

For a team like Columbus, one that only has one really lethal line, this can be a major deal. While Rick Nash was shut down in the first two games against the Wings, the Blue Jackets get to play at home Tuesday night. That means Ken Hitchcock picks the matchup for Nash. That's a good thing, right?

The Columbus Blue Jackets are getting ready to play the first home playoff game in franchise history on Tuesday night, and while they find themselves in a 2-0 hole against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings, some good news might be on the horizon. Hopefully, for the Blue Jackets sake, it's not a case of too little, too late.

According to Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch, 21-year-old center Derick Brassard has been cleared for physical contact, and while he's not likely to play on Tuesday, it's possible he could see action in game 4 on Thursday.