When it came down to discussing the dollar value for his eight-year, $62.4-million contract extension, Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash says he chose his team over money.

During contract negotiations in July, he told general manager Scott Howson that he would take less money to allow the team to bring in other marquee players.

"It was going to take a big piece of the pie," Nash told Hockey Night in Canada, during Saturday's Inside Hockey segment.

"[I thought] we could cut it down, and save some room to bring some top-notch players in here."

It sent a strong message to the organization, and it has already allowed the Blue Jackets to re-sign Antoine Vermette, Kris Russell and Derick Brassard.

"He made a great statement to our team that it's not about the last dollar," Howson said.

"He believes in what we're doing. He's going to be our anchor. And, he's going to lead us hopefully to where we want to go."

Nash said he always wanted to stay in Columbus, and was keen to get a deal done during the off-season. He was entering the final year of his current contract and could have tested the free-agent market, but he chose not to.

"When your captain doesn't want to be there, the whole hockey community looks at it as an indication that something is wrong with Columbus," head coach Ken Hitchcock said. "Now the attitude is 'what's right with Columbus.'"

Columbus doesn't have a history of professional athletes sticking around for long periods of time, and Nash said it's a community he wanted to remain a part of.

But he admitted that growing up in Toronto, he always had visions of someday wearing the blue and white.

Now that he's a fixture in Columbus, the team's management consults with him about possible trades and roster moves.

"We run some things by him," Howson said. "We talk about what we might do. It's always good to get input from the players and leaders."