2K Sports, the sports publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., today announced that Columbus Blue Jackets' captain Rick Nash will be featured as the cover athlete and spokesman for this year?s highly anticipated hockey video game, NHL 2K9. Visual Concepts has taken over the development duties for NHL 2K9 and is building a brand new experience from the ground up with the ultimate goal of creating an addictively fun sport simulation of the NHL that will be available this fall. Nash is expected to travel to 2K Sports offices in San Francisco at the end of May to participate in two days of audio and video sessions, photo shoots, development meetings, and motion capture sessions to begin preparations for the game?s development. "I?ve been a longtime fan of the hockey games from 2K Sports. My idols have all been on the covers of video games as I was growing up, so to be on the cover of NHL 2K9 myself is truly incredible," said Nash. "The set of new features they?re adding is really going to make this game special for hockey fans - I?m hoping they give me a couple extra points to my player rating this year!"