Toronto Maple Leaf Rumors: Rick Nash to Toronto at the Deadline?

It's time to begin speculating Leaf nation. 

TSN announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets will be shopping their captain, Rick Nash, at the NHL trade deadline, and one team you could see make an offer for the Jackets forward is the Maple Leafs. 

Nash has a no movement clause currently in his contract, meaning the Jackets can't move the winger unless they have permission from Nash to pull the trigger. With that being the case, Nash has the right to choose which team he wants to be dealt to. 

All speculation here from me, but don't you think Toronto might be the team Nash wants to go to?

Nash is a native of Toronto, growing up in nearby Brampton, said this offseason that joining the Maple Leafs instead of resigning with the Jackets crossed his mind.

"It was appetizing thinking about playing for the Maple Leafs," Nash said in early October. 

Maybe in this trade deadline, the Leafs can make a move for Nash. They have the pieces to move and Nash fills a need. Then again, who wouldn't want Rick Nash on their squad?

Nash has always been a dominant player in this league, having over 65 points in all of the past five seasons and the league and not having less than 54 points since his rookie season. Considering the lack of talent that has been around Nash throughout his career in Columbus, its not far-fetched to believe he could do better in a better situation. 

But to put those numbers in perspective Leaf fans, Phil Kessel, who is lighting the league on fire this year with his best season ever, only put in 64 points last year for the Leafs to lead the team. Picking up Nash would bring in another big point player that can put up points for the blue and white, a necessity. 

The price wouldn't be cheap for the Leafs, but it would probably end up being worth it. Trading away top prospects like Nazeem Kadri and a second liner like Mikhail Grabovski would likely be the base of the deal, with draft picks and other players filling out the deal. 

Trading certain players in the deal will be painful for the Leafs and their fan base but it's worth it. When you can acquire a player who can lead your team in points, you jump at the chance. Nash is only 27 years old and still has a long career ahead of him. 

Articles speculating that Nash could be the guy Toronto makes its deadline moves are surfacing more and more as we get closer to the trade deadline on Feb. 27. Here is some more fuel to add to that fire. Bringing him in to play for the Leafs is a smart move and putting in an offer is something the Leafs should indeed do.