The Jets have added some veteran depth down the middle as they announced that they’ve signed Riley Nash to a one-year contract. The one-way deal is worth the league-minimum salary of $750K.
Nash split last season between the Blue Jackets and Maple Leafs. He suited up in 37 regular-season games — all with Columbus — picking up just two goals and five assists while winning 49.7% of his faceoffs and averaging 12:46 per game. It looked like his season had come to an end in early April after suffering a knee injury. However, Toronto flipped a 2022 seventh-rounder to acquire him, transferring him to LTIR in the process to expand their LTIR pool. He was able to return for the playoffs, but he suited up in only two of their seven games in their first-round loss to Montreal.
The Jets saw several veteran role players head elsewhere in free agency with Trevor Lewis going to Calgary, Nate Thompson signing in Philadelphia and Mathieu Perreault inking a deal in Montreal. Nash will serve as a replacement for Thompson and should anchor their fourth line. With 578 career NHL games under his belt, he’ll serve as a veteran penalty killer and will allow David Gustafsson to have a bit more time with AHL Manitoba before making the jump to the NHL on a full-time basis.
Sportsnet’s Ken Wiebe was the first to report that Nash was signing with the Jets.
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