Boston Bruins: Riley Nash showed out in 2018
By Sam Minton
The veteran Boston Bruins center had the best season of his career, but Riley Nash’s time in Boston may be nearing its end.
Riley Nash became one of the Boston Bruins most important players this season. Who would have thought you would be saying that last September?
The Bruins took a chance on Nash two years ago when he was just a meddling forward with the Carolina Hurricanes. In his best season he only amounted 25 points. He nearly doubled that total this season.
Nash ended the regular season with 15 goals and 26 assists (both career highs). One of Nash’s great skills was his flexibility. When Patrice Bergeron was sidelined with an injury, Nash stepped up and played well with the Bruins first line.
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I can still remember a play from this season that perfectly personifies Nash. It was against the Ottawa Senators and Nash blocked an Erik Karlsson shot, sped down the ice, and was able to score a beautiful goal.
Nash is a solid two-way player. The type of guy Bruins fans should love. In the postseason Nash struggled (like the entire third line). He was unable to get anything going in the offensive zone and wasn’t the same player. He only had a single point in the postseason.
At Breakup day it was revealed that Nash was dealing with the effects of a concussion and also had a hip injury.
A farewell is probable
Even though Nash had such a great season I don’t think he will be returning to the Bruins. Nash was only making $900,000 this season. The Bruins were lucky to be paying Nash such a small sum for his great play, but when he hits free agency that will change. Even Nash seems to think that he might not return.
"“At the end of the day it is nice to have a season like this because I went into free agency before on the other end of it where Boston kind of took a chance and gave me a shot at two years,” he said. “Obviously it paid off and it is nice to not be swimming upstream and have a little bit more power and more options. Options are good sometimes and this league is all about what have you done for me lately. But at the same time I feel Sweens has always gone to bat for me and been in my corner a lot.”"
With all of the talent the Bruins have in their system I think we see a guy like Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson jump up to the big club.
Next: Patrice Bergeron ignited the B’s in 2018
It may be a bitter goodbye, but the Bruins are getting younger, and Riley Nash will be looking to get paid. No matter what Nash will be remembered fondly by the Boston Bruins faithful.