Rangers' Nash sees 'important year' ahead as free agency looms

In what could be his final season as a member of the New York Rangers, Rick Nash is prepared to give it his all.

Nash admitted he'll be playing for his next deal as he heads toward free agency at age 34 next summer.

"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, per Justin Tasch of the New York Daily News.

"Your contract's up and you play for another contract. That's what I'm facing this year."

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Nash did score a career-high 42 goals in 2014-15, but has struggled to remain healthy and hit the back of the net on a consistent basis since. In 2015-16, he scored only 15 goals in 60 games, but rebounded slightly last season, recording 23 goals in 67 games.

In order to have a healthy measure of term and valuation on his next deal, he'll need to stay on the ice and score with vintage regularity.

And lest he be labeled as selfish, Nash continues to consider team goals as well.

"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."

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