During the month of September, we will profile New Faces in New Places from
around the NHL. We start with Blue Jackets'; center Riley Nash. He could be one
 of the more underrated signings this offseason.Riley Nash

2017-18 Stats: Career high 15-16-41 in 76 games for the Boston Bruins.

2018-19 Team: Columbus Blue Jackets.

How Acquired: Signed a 3-year deal worth $8.25 million on July 1, 2018.

Expected Place in Lineup: Top-9 center.The Blue Jackets hope Riley Nash can
boost both their center depth and their penalty kill. (Brad Rempel-USA TODAY
Sports)Mark';s Take

There was some talk that an "R Nash" could come to Columbus this offseason. It
happened but not in the way you thought it would. The Blue Jackets helped their
 center depth by inking Riley Nash coming off a career high in goals, assists
and points.

With Alexander Wennberg not meeting expectations early and Brandon Dubinsky
going through a season of injury and inconsistent play, it took 19-year old
center Pierre-Luc Dubois playing well to stabilize the middle. The addition of
Nash helps anywhere on the top-9.

The Blue Jackets likely enter the season with their top-four centers as Dubois,
 Wennberg, Nash and Dubinsky. If Dubinsky can find his game (he';s reportedly
had a productive offseason), then you have a team that has good center depth on
 all lines. If someone goes down to injury, Nash can step in and play. When
Patrice Bergeron was out in Boston, who played as their number-one center? It
was Nash.

If I had to venture a guess as to where Nash starts the season, I have him
penciled in as the opening day starter on the third line. If you add a Nick
Foligno and an Oliver Bjorkstrand to the wings, you might be looking at one of
the most formidable third lines in hockey.

At under $3 million per season, this is a smart bet to take given his most
recent production. He';ll play a big role on the penalty kill.

What Others Have Said

"The Blue Jackets will still have one of the NHL';s youngest teams, top to
bottom, but Nash adds veteran experience that will be welcomed on the ice and
in the locker room. Entering his seventh full NHL season, Nash';s his first
game in a Blue Jackets'; uniform will also be his 400th game in the league."
-bluejackets.com

"Riley Nash is a very humble person. The team comes first with him. He can play
 in top-6 or bottom-6 role and will give 100% every time he steps on the ice.
Great guy in the room and will be missed in Boston." -Shawn Hutcheon

"Nash, 29, broke out as a member of the Boston Bruins this past season, putting
 up 41 points in 76 games but more importantly, playing a sturdy two-way game.
Nash was particularly effective in the first round of the playoffs when the B's
 ran into injury problems with star center Patrice Bergeron." -Ryan Kennedy/The
 Hockey News2018-19 Season Stats Prediction

Unless there is injury, I see bottom-six minutes and a lot of penalty kill
minutes. That said, he can still chip in offense.

10-15-25 and helps the Blue Jackets get into the top half in penalty killing.

The post New Faces in New Places: Riley Nash appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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