from Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News,

Rick Nash has never been an unrestricted free agent, but the veteran Ranger who will be 34 years old when free agency begins next summer is entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $7.8 million cap hit.

“Every year I want to have the best year possible. But this year, it’s an important year for me personally,” Nash said Friday at Citi Field during an event promoting the Winter Classic between the Rangers and Sabres on New Year’s Day at the ballpark. “It’s an important year for the Rangers, too. We still haven’t achieved that goal (winning the Stanley Cup) that we all want to achieve.”

The venerable winger knows his performance during the upcoming season will inform his next contract but offered a very matter-of-fact view on his situation. “Your contract’s up and you play for another contract. That’s what I’m facing this year,” he said.

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