Rick Nash is calling it a career, rather than risk another head injury.
The former London Knight's retirement after a 15 year NHL career was announced by his agency on Friday morning.
Statement on behalf of client Rick Nash: pic.twitter.com/DekEvhSevy
— Top Shelf Hockey (@Topshelf_TSSM) January 11, 2019
“Due to unresolved issues/symptoms from the concussion sustained last March, Rick Nash will be forced to retire from the game of hockey,” the statement from Top Shelf Sports Management said. “Under the advice of his medical team, the risk of further brain injury is far too great if Rick returns to play. Rick would like to thank everyone who has supported him during this difficult time period.”
Nash played for the Knights for two seasons (2000-2001 and 2001-2002), amassing 138 points in 63 games. In 2002, he was drafted first overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played nine seasons for the Blue Jackets before being traded to the New York Rangers. In his sixth season with the Rangers, he was traded to the Boston Bruins. While playing for the Bruins in 2018, Nash suffered a concussion during a game in March.
In addition to his NHL career, in which he scored 437 goals and 368 assists in 1,060 regular season games, Nash was a two-time Olympic gold medalist as a member of Team Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics.