NHL Trade Rumors: Power Ranking Blue Jackets Sniper Rick Nash's Likely Suitors

With the NHL trade rumor hot stove on full blast, there are some huge stories cooking, including word that Rick Nash may be on his way out of Columbus.

All of the following teams will be interested in the services of a stellar power forward like Nash, and all have the assets to get this deal done. It will cost a lot, but a player of Nash’s caliber doesn’t come on the trade market very much.

Toronto Maple Leafs

With serious questions about Nash’s happiness with the Blue Jackets, the Toronto Maple Leafs look to be the front runners to make a deal worth it for Columbus.

Former Maple Leafs assistant general manager Bill Watters gave a great example of a possible deal that would work for both parties:

With the financials matching up well and Columbus getting a plethora of young, talented players in return, this may be a deal too good for the Blue Jackets to turn down. As for the no movement clause in his contract, Nash is ready to go so that shouldn’t be an issue.

Los Angeles Kings

The Columbus Blue Jackets need quality defenders and a steady goaltender for the future. That’s one of the reasons Nash wants out in the first place; there is no plan going forward and certainly not one that the forward can get behind.

When the Blue Jackets finally admit defeat and try to move Nash, Los Angeles will be close behind Toronto with an offer. The Kings have more young talent on their team than anyone on this list, but getting them to part with it will be key.

For this deal to work, I feel that Columbus will want one of the Kings' two stellar young goalies. With Jonathan Quick playing solid in net all season, it would have to be Bernier. Add in another defender and maybe Dustin Penner and Nash could be living in LA soon.

Vancouver Canucks

To mention the Blue Jackets' need for goaltending again may seem like overkill, but they have become desperate since Steve Mason turned into a dud. Vancouver could offer Cory Schneider.

It’s obvious that the Canucks would have to throw in a quality defender in Keith Ballard or Alex Edler to make the deal work financially and talent wise, but I feel that Vancouver would have to give even more.

With the Blue Jackets organization trading away the face of the team, they would have to receive the obvious goalie-defenseman combination, but they would need a forward that could make up some of the scoring lost with Nash’s departure. Maybe Alex Burrows?

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