Riley Nash was re-acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning during the trade deadline on Monday (Image Credit: NHL)

By Chad Klassen

RILEY NASH

Kamloops’ Nash to play rest of season in AHL, serve as depth player for Lightning playoff run

Mar 23, 2022 | 3:37 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been a whirlwind year for kamloops native Riley Nash, who’s played for three different teams this season — just as many as his first 10 years in the NHL.

After signing in the offseason with Winnipeg, he was traded to Tampa Bay, then to Arizona. Now he’s back with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions, trading this week during the deadline.

However, he won’t be suiting up with the big club, playing with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch while serving as depth for the Lightning playoff run.

“Yeah it’s been a crazy year, to say the least. I feel that over the course of this year, [my family’s] done a really good job of being flexible and learning how to live out of one or two suitcases. I’m in a fortunate situation where my wife can move around with me and can continue working.”

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Nash talked with CFJC Today from his hotel room in Syracuse, where he’ll play out the rest of the season in the American Hockey League, likely only to be called up to the Lightning in case of injury on what they hope is a run for a third straight Stanley Cup.

“Fortunately, I got sent back to a pretty good team that I’m familar with. I’ll finish the year in the AHL with them here in Syracuse and hopefully join them for the playoffs,” said Nash. “I think they only have 12 forwards up there right now, so it’s a situation I’m guessing will change game to game for them, depending on what happens. I think their salary cap is quite high, it’s quite tight, so that definitely plays a factor.”

Nash’s cap hit is $750,000. His mindset is to get his game back on track — with only four assists this season, all with Arizona.

“Yeah just play my game. It hasn’t been a terrific year for me personally, but just trying to get back to those things, playing more minutes, the things I know I can do,” he said. “You can’t really simulate game situations. You can practice all you want, but getting the minutes and getting the reps in a game definitely makes a big difference.”

When asked if he thought this was a demotion or a sign his NHL career is over, he disagreed.

“It’s definitely the business of hockey. I try not to look at it as my career winding down. I know I obviously don’t have the green pastures ahead of me, but I do feel like when I play my game and I’m feeling good, I can definitely make an impact,” said Nash.

“So I don’t know if it’s that my career is winding down, which it is, hopefully not this year. Hopefully I have a couple more years left. Just trying to find things that I’ve done in the past that I still believe I can do and make a difference at the NHL level. I’ve had times where I’ve definitely done that and I’ve had times where I haven’t, so I know it’s in there. It’s just one of those things that I need to try and uncover and find again.”