Hitchcock 'so proud' watching Nash play

Outstanding profile on Rick Nash by The New York Post, once again alluding to the subtleties in his game – beyond offensive contributions - which have helped his Rangers advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Nash, for his part, credits the work of former Columbus Blue Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock.

“It was a great education for me,” said Nash.

Hitchcock, by phone on Sunday afternoon, was beaming with pride talking about his former pupil.

“I am so proud watching Rick play the way he has been for the Rangers during this run,” Hitchcock said. “When I got [to Columbus], he was a player who so badly wanted to contribute to a winning team, not just to go out there and score some goals and lose the game.

“One of things he said to me was that all the money in the world didn’t matter unless he could be recognized for his role on a winning team, a championship team,” the coach said. “That’s what it always was for him; always about the team.”

The key for Hitchcock was relaying the transformation of Mike Modano’s game when the star and Hitchcock were paired in Dallas.

“I was lucky that I’d gone through it with Mo and was able to use that experience with Rick,” Hitchcock said. “It’s not about making an offensive player into a checker, it’s about changing a guy’s value system.

“What I would tell Mo and Rick was that the only way you can get the puck and create offense against good teams is to check and get it back. You’ve got to be back on the puck if you want it; no good team you’re playing is going to give it you.

“Doing that changed Mo’s life and career. I threw Mo in Rick’s face so much I’m sure he got sick of it. But he bought in and so willingly and enthusiastically,” he said. “And you can see that he never loses sight of that value system.”

Source: Larry Brooks, New York Post