«They didn't throw me on one of the top lines, but they didn't keep me out as a healthy scratch, either. I think Dave King and Doug were using me well, and I think it was good development for me. I couldn't think of a better team to come to for a young guy than Columbus. You aren't just going to jump in and be a star player at 18. It's tough to be a star in the NHL. I just fit in and played my role on the third line, and just kind of hit and chipped in with a goal here or there when I could.»

«I lost five pounds over the summer, and I know where they went. Nash has them.»

«[A Calder Trophy finalist last season, Nash hopes that his new bulk will enable him to muscle in goals around the net and do anything else to help turn around a team that limped to a Western Conference-worst 69 points. Columbus lost its top point-scorer when former captain Ray Whitney signed with Detroit, but his exit opened a spot for Nash on the second line. He will skate alongside speedy center Todd Marchant, who had career highs in goals (20) and assists (40) with Edmonton last year.] It's an honor to play with him, ... I grew up watching him and pretending I was him.»

«I just didn't try to think about it [a sophomore slump]. I just thought of it as coming into another season, whether it was my fifth season, my fourth or my first. I just tried to make it look like that. Lucky enough for me I got off to a quick start. I think that was the main thing, not to fall into a slump early. I'm sure I'll fall into a slump somewhere down the road. I don't think this can last the whole season.»

«I'd like to play like Joe Thornton does right now. I try to mold my game around his. If you say four years, three years down the road, if I could be where he is, then I'd be pretty happy.»

«He played a brilliant game, ... We were able to at least salvage two points for him. Let's face the facts: If he doesn't play like he does for 40 minutes, we're nowhere near that game. We know it. Everybody knows it.»

«This is the team I was drafted to, and this is where I've made my home for the last three years. I don't want to switch teams. I'd rather take this team to the top.»

«Just to know that we've got quite a future here in Blue Jackets with all the young players, I think is exciting for No. 1 the fans, and for especially the franchise, so I'm just happy to be back and looking forward to this September.»

«I didn't even wear it. I couldn't get it on. It was way too tight. I didn't bother.»

«Definitely, to be mentioned in the same bracket as those names is a pretty big deal. It's a bit different here in Columbus, we don't have as much media. So to have that media attention is a great thing for me personally but also a great thing for the team and the organization as well.»