COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed captain Rick Nash to an eight-year contract extension, the team said Friday.

The contract begins in 2010-11, extending through the 2017-2018 season. Terms were not disclosed.

"Rick is our captain, the foundation of our team and one of the elite players in the NHL," general manager Scott Howson said on the team's website (http://bluejackets.nhl.com). "We are very happy he will continue to call Columbus home for many years."

The 25-year-old winger is the team's all-time leader in goals and points having compiled 194 goals and 161 assists in 441 career games and led Columbus to its first playoff appearance last season.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Greg Stutchbury;