As Rick Nash Goes, so Will the 2013-14 New York Rangers

If you take a look at the last two games for the New York Rangers, the importance of Rick Nash to the team is evident. Despite the Rangers' most recent cash contribution to netminder Henrik Lundqvist, Nash is the team's most important player, and they will go as far as he can take them.

Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports' Puck Daddy blog tweeted his reaction to the Lundqvist' re-signing on Thursday:

Wyshynski's poignant tweet reinforces how important Nash is to the Rangers' success because it won't matter how good Lundqvist is in net if the team can't support him with some offense.

Nash was inconsistent after returning to the lineup on Nov. 19, and the Rangers were having trouble picking up points because of it. According to Andrew Gross of Northjersey.com, head coach Alain Vigneault called out his team by stating that he needed more from his top guys, and that includes Nash.

Nash is a 6'4", 213-pound power forward who can make a difference, and there is no reason why he can't be a 40-goal scorer and an 80-point player in New York.

The 2002 No. 1 overall pick in the NHL draft has not had a multi-goal game this season. That is something that is going to have to change. Nash is one of the NHL's best goal scorers and should be producing at a higher rate in New York.

Player	Team	Games	Goals	Goals Per Game
Alex Ovechkin	WSH	627	392	0.625
Steven Stamkos	TBL	390	222	0.569
Sidney Crosby	PIT	500	253	0.506
Jaromir Jagr	NJD	1420	692	0.487
Teemu Selanne	ANA	1410	678	0.481
Evgeni Malkin	PIT	487	224	0.460
Dany Heatley	MIN	816	366	0.449
Marian Gaborik	CBJ	786	341	0.434
Rick Nash	NYR	730	315	0.431

As the Rangers' best offensive player, Nash sets the tone and others look for him to lead. Many fans and pundits suggest that Nash is one of the league's most overrated players. While you could make a case for that, he was a one-man band while in Columbus, doing things the best he could for the Blue Jackets.

Here is a look at Nash's production in the last two games:

Date	Opponent	Goals	Assists	Points	Plus/Minus	Shots	T.O.I
12/2/13	WPG	0	0	0	-1	7	18:16
12/5/13	BUF	1	0	1	1	3	14:59

Since returning from a concussion that forced him to miss 17 games, Nash has seven points in nine games, and 10 points in 12 games for the season.

He is producing at a team-best rate of 0.83 points per game and is slowly rounding into form.

Nash is surrounded with some solid secondary performers in New York with both Nash and the Rangers having mutually benefited to date. Rangers such as Derek Stepan have developed into quality contributors while Nash has improved his game as well.

Nash has always been known for his deceptive shot and his ability to take the puck to the net, but in New York, he has also learned how to use his reputation. There have been instances in which Nash has set up opponents with great passes because defenders assumed that he would be driving to the net.

In short, the Rangers need goals to win, and Nash has shown throughout his career that he can find the back of the net. He is a key player for the Rangers who sets the tone offensively.

As Nash goes, so will the Rangers this season.