The Columbus Blue Jackets have promoted Chris Clark to assistant general manager and Rick Nash to director of player personnel/development, club President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell announced Tuesday.
The trio of Nash, Clark, and Laurence Gilman, who in January was named Vice President of Hockey Operations, will each report directly to Waddell.
“Chris Clark and Rick Nash have each done an exceptional job as members of our hockey operations leadership group and are very deserving of these promotions,” said President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Don Waddell.
“They are former Blue Jackets players who care very deeply about this organization. They are intelligent, extremely hard-working and committed to our succeeding at the highest level and I am excited that they will continue to play important roles here as we move forward.”
Clark, 49, has served as the club’s director of player personnel and general manager of the AHL's Cleveland Monsters since 2019. Prior to that, he spent seven years as a development coach and director of player personnel from 2012-19.
The Blue Jackets acquired Clark from the Washington Capitals in 2010 and he played 89 games with the organization before his 2011 retirement, scoring eight goals and adding 12 assists (20 points) in that time.
In addition to his front-office career with the Blue Jackets, Clark also served as general manager of the United States Men's National Team that competed at the 2023 IIHF World Championships in Tampere, Finland.
Well deserved promotions!
— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) February 3, 2026
Rick Nash has been promoted to Director of Player Personnel/ Development and Chris Clark has been promoted to Assistant General Manager! Congratulations Chris and Rick
https://t.co/yo3nZkA2pO pic.twitter.com/FxO8U8KqmY
Nash, 41, has been a member of Columbus' hockey operations department since 2019. He was first named special assistant to the general manager, and then was promoted to director of player development in 2021.
Since 2024, Nash has served as director of hockey operations.
Nash, Columbus' only first overall pick (2002), served as the club’s captain between 2008 and 2012. He is the franchise’s all-time leader in goals (289) and points (547).
In 2022, Nash became the first player in franchise history to have his jersey retired, with #61 hanging in the rafters for nearly the last four years.
