Rick Nash retires at 34 because of effects of concussion

Rick Nash has decided to retire at 34 because of unresolved symptoms from a concussion he suffered in March.

Agent Joe Resnick announced Nash’s retirement in a statement Friday. Resnick says Nash decided under advice from doctors that the risk of brain injury was far too great if he returned to play hockey.

Nash scored 437 goals and had 368 assists for 805 points in 1,060 regular-season NHL games. The first overall draft pick in 2002, he played 15 seasons: nine with the Columbus Blue Jackets, five-plus with the New York Rangers and then finished with the Boston Bruins.

A 6-foot-4 power winger with a nose for the net, Nash won gold medals playing for Canada at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.