NHL Trade Rumors: The Rick Nash Situation from a New York Rangers' Perspective

Rick Nash is on the market and what are the odds of him becoming a New York Ranger?

That is the question on the minds of inquisitive members of the Blueshirt Brotherhood. 

The NHL trade deadline may be less than two weeks away, but the Rick Nash trade rumors have reached an ad nauseum level. I can easily say that a supply of Tylenol will be by my side for the next two weeks—as it appears that the power winger will be the most coveted piece at the deadline.

It is likely that he could end up somewhere else, but this article will take a look at the Nash situation from a Rangers' perspective.

Before delving into the X's and O's, let's establish some background information.

State of the Columbus Blue Jackets

On one side are the Columbus Blue Jackets, an unlucky franchise that hasn't had much success despite securing multiple-lottery draft picks. At the start of the season, fans and management had a reason to be hopeful with key acquisitions Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski.

Who would have thought that after acquiring a perennial 30-goal scorer and a power-play specialist, the Blue Jackets would be at the bottom of the league and on the verge of dealing the face of the franchise?

The bottom line is this: Columbus needs to hit the reset button. They have already fired their coach, and their general manager likely will be given a pink slip at the end of this season. In order to rebuild, Columbus needs top players.

There is no way to convince a top free agent to sign in Columbus given the current state of the team. A team can also only improve ever so slightly through the draft. Columbus tried to do that. It hasn't worked.

Rick Nash is arguably the only piece worth trading in an attempt to refill the pool with some key pieces.

From a Rangers' perspective what would the negotiations be like?

What Does Scott Howson Want? 

Scott Howson is seeking the following pieces in no particular order or combination, and it would take a team some of the following to acquire Nash:

• Top Prospect
• Young Goaltender
• Young Center
• Defenseman

Howson is looking for players that can step in now, and a player that could replace Nash in the future. The Rangers don't have a goaltender, but have defensive prospects in Tim Erixon and Dylan McIlrath. They also have some forwards that Howson could be interested in.

A top prospect like Chris Kreider is the same size as Nash and has been projected to be a 30-goal scorer. Kreider could be a key to a deal sending Nash to Broadway. Other components could include Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, a draft pick and another potential prospect like Christian Thomas.

If Howson had his wish, he would make a cocktail out of this list and would gladly accept—but that isn't how Glen Sather negotiates. If Sather were to say no, there are some other teams that could show interest.

Who Else Is on The List?

Rick Nash submitted a list of teams he would accept a trade to. In the section below, Bob McKenzie does a great job explaining.

In short here are the five teams rumored to be on the list:

1) New York Rangers

2) Los Angeles Kings

3) Boston Bruins

4) Philadelphia Flyers

5) Toronto Maple Leafs

The Canucks are also a team McKenzie names, but he is unsure whether they will consider getting in a bidding war.

State of the Rangers

When looking at that list, the Rangers would have to logistically pony up a lot to acquire Nash. However, Glen Sather has a good history when it comes to negotiating. He would have a slight advantage in this situation.

The Rangers currently are the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, and they are firing on all cylinders. The team has played great—and they simply don't need Rick Nash. Sather could make other improvements to his team, and the Rangers could still have a successful playoff run.

The Rangers also are one of the rumored five teams that Nash will accept a trade to. It isn't a case where every other team could outbid the Rangers. Nash has a full no-movement clause. So if he wants to go to the Rangers, he will end up a Ranger.

It would only then become a matter of time because if a deal didn't go down before the deadline, negotiations could pick up again at the NHL draft.

The way Nash exits Columbus could determine the future of Howson's job. If Howson tries to sell Nash unsuccessfully at a king's ransom, he will be replaced by someone who will deal Nash for a reasonable price. Columbus needs to rebuild—trading Nash will be the start of the long process.

Nash carries a $7.8 million dollar-cap hit. Any team that trades for him will be taking on a heavy burden. Howson needs to understand this and should take the best offer he can get before getting too greedy.

On paper, the rumored offer of Kreider, Dubinsky and a first-round draft pick is a good start. Howson gets a replacement prospect, a young forward that is having a bad year and a future draft pick. While this may not be the best offer, the Rangers can walk away from the table—if Howson says no.

Will Nash Become A Ranger?

My gut tells me no, because Glen Sather and the Ranger organization have changed the way they do business. The current philosophy involves building from within. Players like Artem Anisimov, Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto, Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Girardi, Carl Hagelin, Henrik Lundqvist, Michael Sauer, Marc Staal and Derek Stepan are all by products of the system.

When ten players from your roster have developed from the system, and are a major player to the team's success—that says something.

There are also future salary cap implications for adding this contract.

Cap Crunch

In the next three years, the Rangers will have to re-sign Del Zotto, McDonagh, Callahan, Lundqvist, Gaborik, Anismov, Hagelin and various others to new contracts. Adding Nash limits the ability to do that. There is no reason why this core group of players can't continue improving over the next few years to the point where the Rangers could win multiple Stanley Cups.

It is in the team's best interest to hold onto the bulk of these players that are so vital, instead of adding one player that will make it nearly impossible to retain the others.

While my gut says no, when you take the rumors, the fact that the teams have scouted each other for over a month and Glen Sather's knack for making amazing trades—I would say there is a thirty-percent chance of Nash becoming a Ranger. 

If a trade goes down it would not be a whim. The Rangers' locker room has already discussed the possibility of a trade.

Brad Richards had this to say on the situation"

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“As things heat up, it’s probably a good idea to discuss it in the room,” Brad Richards told The Post before last night’s 3-0 triumph over the Bruins. “It can be a very difficult situation for a player to hear his name involved in trade rumors.

“It’s a part of our business, and you have to learn how to deal with it and to trust things will work out for the best, but having gone through it twice, I know it affected me the first time [before going from Tampa Bay to Dallas at the 2008 deadline] and I know that it can have an impact on a player and a team.”

“It’s not for me to comment on possible trades, but I do know the organization has a long-range plan that I don’t believe it will deviate from,” Richards said. “The plan as it’s been explained to me is to build and grow through the system.

“If there’s a trade, I would expect it to be part of the process. I don’t believe there’s been a change in the plan.”

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The Rangers have a plan and a road map. Whether the player is Nash, Kreider or trying to sign a key free agent—any move or lack of a move is predetermined and calculated.

In closing, while this may all seem overwhelming, remember this: Everything you read up until the deadline is just a rumor. Until the NHL league offices have processed a trade—nothing is official.

While it is great to get caught up in rumors, you can never guarantee anything. Rangers' fans should enjoy the ride the Rangers have been on, and they should not be clamoring for a move either way.

No matter what happens, fans can know that Glen Sather, Gordie Clark and John Tortorella have the team's best interests in mind.

It is likely that the Rangers will make a move at or before the deadline, but it may not be for Rick Nash. Right now the Rangers have proved they can beat the best of the best with the roster as it is, so there is no reason to sell the farm for a shiny new toy.

For convenience, here is the complete gauntlet of all Rick Nash related rumors when it comes to the New York Rangers.

For the full scoop check out Rumor Central:

• TSN
• Ottawa Sun
• New York Post
• New York Daily News
• Columbus Dispatch
• Darren Dreger on Nash's NMC
• Bob McKenzie on Potential Suitors

Tom Urtz, Jr. is an NHL featured columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: