NHL Trade Rumors: Contending Teams that Should Make Push for Rick Nash

Rick Nash of the Columbus Blue Jackets has claimed in the past he doesn't want to be moved. But according to John Shannon of HockeyCentral, Nash may reconsider.

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I have received a couple of calls from friends of Nash, who claim that Rick is very unhappy with the way the franchise is going and realizes it will take five more years to rebuild, again. Nash is now telling people close to him that he would entertain being moved, but still will not be the one who asks for a trade.

Always one who didn't aspire to play in a big market with big pressure, it appears Nash now realizes that he might have to step into the spotlight in order to win. It is a very tough situation for a very classy player.

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So what teams should inquire about Nash?

Toronto Maple Leafs

The Leafs are widely believed to be interested in a different Columbus player, center Jeff Carter. But personally, I'd inquire much more diligently about Nash if I were the Leafs. He comes with less baggage and provides the same amount of offense.

He'll demand a higher price, but he'll be a better presence on the team and for the franchise in the long run.

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings desperately could use a surge in offense. But you don't have to take my word for it—Kings general manager Dean Lombardi will just tell you himself. From Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times:

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"I'm amazed at how many other general managers say, 'We can't score. I say, 'YOU can't score?' " Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi said by phone Monday.

"It's hard to find an upgrade right now."

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The fact that the Kings are tight to the salary cap makes this the unlikeliest of the three teams listed here. But the Kings should at least call Columbus, do their due diligence and see if the two teams can work out a creative deal.

Calgary Flames

Consider this, from Kevin Allen of USA Today:

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General manager Jay Feaster seems to have an "all in" philosophy, meaning he is open to making a big deal to improve the team's chances of making the playoffs. The Flames are interested in the Carolina Hurricanes' Tuomo Ruutu. They have a bushel of potential unrestricted free agents who could be moved to upgrade the offense.

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Calgary is thick in the playoff hunt and should compete for one of the final playoff seeds in the Western Conference. Nash would go a long way to helping them accomplish that goal.

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