Blue Jackets' Nash to front NHL 2K9

12 Comments by Jason Dobson May 16th 2008 2:00AM
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sports

Sure he and his team may have missed the playoffs yet again and are likely fantasizing about what might have been while swinging at balls from the back nine, but that hasn't stopped Columbus Blue Jackets' young-yet-impressive captain Rick Nash from scoring cover duty on Take Two's fall release of NHL 2K9. Also worthy of note from 2K is that developer Visual Concepts has "taken over" development duties for this latest game in the franchise -- as opposed we assume to working in tandem with fellow studio Kush Games -- and that the devs are rebuilding the title "from the ground up."

Not to take anything away from three-time All Star Nash, but it's still an odd choice, at least by team standings, given the Blue Jackets' once again abysmal campaign during the 2007-08 regular season that saw the fledgling team rank near the bottom of both the Western Conference and overall league in points. However, perhaps those who make these kinds of decisions are hoping this is the sort of voodoo that will turn Ohio's NHL franchise around -- sort of like a reverse Madden curse.

Tags: 2k-games, 2k-sports, 2kgames, 2ksports, hockey, kush-games, kushgames, nhl, nhl-2k9, nhl2k9, visual-concepts, visualconcepts

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Kyattsuai: May 16th 2008; 2:49AM

I didn't know the team was so bad, but in all fairness, I didn't even know there was an NHL team called the Blue Jackets.

Waffle Slayer: May 16th 2008; 3:26AM

Don't feel bad. Your existence doesn't mean shit to them either.

miffy495: May 16th 2008; 3:43AM

In fairness to Rick Nash, he's currently doing an excellent job as the captain of team Canada at this year's IIHF world championships. Just because the NHL season is almost over doesn't mean hockey stops. At the very least, us Canadians should know Nash well.

HayterPants: May 16th 2008; 4:23AM

He may be the newly named captain of the BJs, but Shane Doan still captains for Canada at the WC.

t_m: May 16th 2008; 4:55AM

I thought everyone agreed that the NHL2K games were way better than the EA ones... i'm not sure they need to hand it to a new studio, they need to match EA's advertising. (yeah right).

Though, I guess a fresh pair of eyes might lead to something cool... though it could just as easily lead to something terrible. Still, I guess at least we get a break from the annual cycle either way...

Jtenma: May 16th 2008; 6:13AM

Hmmmm. on a side note..

I've been doing research on this "madden Curse" and have realized that it "started" on the year '99 cover of the Madden games. Does this mean that 10 years later the reverse COULD happen just as this post comically suggests?

Maybe...
I'm coining a new term for hockey luck, calling it the 2k blessing. (opposite of a curse)

ps I AM REALLY FUCKING OUT OF MY MIND TIRED!
ignore this post...good day.

Resident Lune: May 16th 2008; 9:46AM

It's certainly worth sharing that one of Nasher's goal this season was considered the top goal of the year by TSN, beating out some pretty spiffy ones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wk_wuWmJRs

Seriously, how does one pull that off with less than half a minute.

... also? I find your commentary on the Blue Jackets' season this year to be rather error-prone. The Jackets were within 5-7 points of the final playoff spot all season long, and for the first time in history were set to finish at or above .500, too (they were above .500 all the way until the final 3-4 games of the season). Had they not imploded during the final two weeks, they at least would have had that to be content about.

Also? Picture needs less old jersey, and more new jersey, since Columbus' jerseys were probably one of the most improved in the league. :-p

dsub: May 16th 2008; 11:12AM

Agreed.

As someone who lives in Columbus, the Jackets have TONS of support here, but that support will begin to dwindle. We want to make the playoffs dammit!

browntown: May 16th 2008; 10:11AM

HE sic player, too bad the 2k nhl franchise sucks.

ahoward: May 16th 2008; 11:13AM

Nash's goal of the year alone is enough to deserve this cover shot, the guy is a damn good player, and if it was the team on the cover then you guys might have a point, but they dont put a whole team on the cover, they put a player, and rick nash deserves it just as much as crosby, ovechkin, malkin, or any other guy that was probably getting consideration

John: May 16th 2008; 12:14PM

Nash is an absolutely amazing player. He's one of the reasons I have season tickets to the Jackets.

Evan: May 16th 2008; 1:07PM

The Blue Jackets were actually playing much better this season, and was on the bubble for the playoffs for the first time in a long time at the all-star break.

Nash is a beast, and if you haven't seen his amazing goal from this past season watch it here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=kBQArUjP89w

Seriously Joystiq, if that doesn't net you the cover of a video game, nothing will!

Also, I'll take any reverse curse that we can get.

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