No longer. I assume this media gets archived? If so, someone please PM me, Sam or Mac and we'll re-open
__________________
"Every game, every point is a necessity." -- Ty Conklin, January 2007
"I'll have a chance to compete for the post of first issue. This is the most important thing." -- Sergei Bobrovsky, June 2012
Last edited by Double-Shift Lassé: 09-25-2009 at 02:52 PM.
I remember him being pretty upset when Doug was fired, though.
Nash was upset for a variety of reasons unrelated to his personal feelings for Doug MacLean. Understand that Nash was drafted at age 18, signed a contract extension shortly after his ELC expired, and didn't play a day in the OHL or AHL after he was drafted.
Look at it from his perspective. He was in the organization for five full years and the team simply was going nowhere. Early draft picks weren't becoming NHL players, free agent signings weren't improving the team, and there was a total lack of direction. When the CBJ took the step of canning Gallant (which came from above MacLean) and then booting MacLean, there definitely was a sort of crisis over "What direction is this team going? Where do I fit in, how do I fit in, and what can I expect?"
Let's look at it this way. You have worked with a company for five years and are now preparing for a new job with a new company. There is going to be a certain pervasive feeling during the time between jobs; if you hated your old job, it will be one of excitement and relief. If you loved your old job and were forced out, there will be a sense of dread and fear. Nash was feeling the latter.
Two years later, the excitement is certainly there. He's seen the team improve by leaps and bounds and a clear direction imparted by Ken Hitchcock and Scott Howson, which is a great deal more than can be said about the previous regime.
didn't doug maclean get kicked off the fan 590? if i was nash i would of been saying in the background HOWSON'S BETTER!
He was kicked off of one Fan590 show run by someone with a similarly questionable reputation.
__________________
Remember - when you're a hockey fan, it's not "reckless driving", it's "good forechecking".
"Viqsi, you are our sweet humanist..." --mt-svk on the CBJ boards
Thanks, Howson, for cleaning up MacLean's toxic waste. Welcome, Kekalainen; let's get good things built!
Nash was upset for a variety of reasons unrelated to his personal feelings for Doug MacLean. Understand that Nash was drafted at age 18, signed a contract extension shortly after his ELC expired, and didn't play a day in the OHL or AHL after he was drafted.
Look at it from his perspective. He was in the organization for five full years and the team simply was going nowhere. Early draft picks weren't becoming NHL players, free agent signings weren't improving the team, and there was a total lack of direction. When the CBJ took the step of canning Gallant (which came from above MacLean) and then booting MacLean, there definitely was a sort of crisis over "What direction is this team going? Where do I fit in, how do I fit in, and what can I expect?"
Let's look at it this way. You have worked with a company for five years and are now preparing for a new job with a new company. There is going to be a certain pervasive feeling during the time between jobs; if you hated your old job, it will be one of excitement and relief. If you loved your old job and were forced out, there will be a sense of dread and fear. Nash was feeling the latter.
Two years later, the excitement is certainly there. He's seen the team improve by leaps and bounds and a clear direction imparted by Ken Hitchcock and Scott Howson, which is a great deal more than can be said about the previous regime.
I already understood the context, which you put quite well, and I am quite sure he had many reasons to be upset. However, unless someone can say with authority that part of Nash's reasons for being upset about MacLean's firing weren't that he personally liked and/or respected him, I'm uncomfortable accepting it as true simply because it feels like that's what fans want to be true, rather than what is--in my opinion--more likely to be true. We already know that, despite fan hatred of Foote, Nash still goes to him for advice.
I don't have a stake in this. I didn't like MacLean. I'd just prefer to have the truth, though I don't expect to get it unless someone has had some intimate talks with Nash around here. And I don't mean his picture.
I think the problem is overlooking the manic behavior of MacLean. He was not all evil, all saintly, all stupid or all brilliant. He could be any of those at any given time.
MacLean stuck his neck out for Nash, merchandised him, brought him up quickly. Nash seemed to be a XGMDM's teacher's pet (no offense to Nash) in some ways. So I wouldn't be terribly surprised if Nash held MacLean in high regard despite his shortcomings as a GM.
Honestly, I found the segment itself to be relatively entertaining, and I'm not exactly a fan of MacLean and his tenure here.
Granted, there were portions during the earlier banter where I wanted to somehow reach through the Interweb and strangle him, but for the most part the interview itself was fine IMO.
It's really quite irrelevant what Rick's opinion of MacLean was/is. Rick took the opportunity to speak very well of Columbus both as the hockey organization and a city. He was on the air in the LARGEST hockey market on earth and made it clear that he CHOSE Columbus for reasons other than just money. Like Doug or not, his ego has contributed to the Blue Jackets being the topic of discussion fairly often. He brings attention to this team in a city where there are still "fans" of hockey that aren't entirely convinced that the Columbus Blue Jackets are actually an NHL team.
Rick Nash does not strike me as a man to make poor judgements and I'm glad he doesn't find it necessary to tell MacLean to kiss his *** just because a few disgruntled fans feel he should. That's not how the game is played and maybe, just maybe, Rick considers Doug a friend. Does it really matter?
Listen to Doug between 1:08:30 - 1:08:35. He very clearly goes to make a quick indirect jab at the Blue Jackets then catches himself before he gets it all out. The interview with Nash itself though was pretty funny, especially the part about the 5 on 3's.
I already understood the context, which you put quite well, and I am quite sure he had many reasons to be upset. However, unless someone can say with authority that part of Nash's reasons for being upset about MacLean's firing weren't that he personally liked and/or respected him, I'm uncomfortable accepting it as true simply because it feels like that's what fans want to be true, rather than what is--in my opinion--more likely to be true. We already know that, despite fan hatred of Foote, Nash still goes to him for advice.
I don't have a stake in this. I didn't like MacLean. I'd just prefer to have the truth, though I don't expect to get it unless someone has had some intimate talks with Nash around here. And I don't mean his picture.
Two things to take away from that interview. 1.) Rick Nash is doing an excellent job of being the "face" of the CBJ. He is polished in his presentation and believable.2.) XGMDM can be charming, but more like the mongoose is to the cobra....don't get too close!
Last edited by orthosrgn2: 09-26-2009 at 10:03 AM.
