With so many pundits creating, manufacturing and prognosticating where Columbus Blue Jacket captain Rick Nash will end up next Monday, I ask readers and Colombus GM Scott Howson the following:

Just why would you trade Rick Nash?

Seriously!

We're taking about an NHL stud here. Not an aging NHL veteran closing in on his final years in the league either. 

Nash is 28 years old and in the prime of his career. A player of this magnitude does not come around every day, especially if you are the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Seriously, what would you get back to make it worth while to lose a player of this calibre—in his prime?

Blue Jacket woes cannot be blamed on Nash. The club has spent oodles of cash, owning a bigger-than-expected payroll, however, the team's production does not match the tab.

Four contracts absolutely annihilate the club's makeup. R.J. Umberger, Jeff Carter, James Wisniewski and Fedor Tyutin all have massive, unwarranted contracts.

Collectively, Umberger, Carter, Wisniewski and Tyutin will get paid nearly $20 million in 2012-2013. Throw in Antoine Vermette's (eight goals this year) $3.75 million, and you are now at nearly $24 million for next season. 

Nash is locked up until 2018. To say you are going to trade him to try and rebuild is without merit. He is a building block. He is a player you can build around, only the Jackets have done it poorly.

Does it make sense to trade Rick Nash?

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They tried taking a shortcut and hastily overpaid for players that should either not be getting paid that kind of loot or simply do not fit in the scheme of things in Columbus—as in the case of Carter.

Howson needs to do all he can trying to trade those other high priced salaried player and if unsuccessful, then think about buy-outs at the end of the season. 

Trading Nash does nothing but blow up a franchise. And even if he is traded, the Jackets are still stuck with some of the league's worst contracts.

The prudent thing to do would be to continue to build around Nash, even if it's a rebuild. He is signed for another five years. Surely, if done right, he can be surrounded by a supporting castin time.