NHL Trade Rumors: Columbus Blue Jackets Forward Rick Nash Is "on the Market"

Columbus All-Star and team captain, Rick Nash, is officially "on the market," it has been revealed.

RDS reporter Renaud Lavoie was first with the news last night, and The Sports Network today confirmed that the 27-year-old power forward is indeed on the trading block.

TSN's Bob McKenzie reported that Nash has submitted a list of teams—no more than five—that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to accept a transfer to.

Darren Dreger, also of TSN, lists the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings as possible teams on Nash's short list. 

ESPN reporter Pierre Lebrun believes that the Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs are the other two teams on Nash's short list.

The Brampton, Ontario native has 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 56 games this season.

His career high in goals, assists and points came in the 2008-09 season, when he tallied 40 goals and 39 assists for 79 points.

Nash carries a $7.8 million cap-hit for six more seasons, which may make it difficult for a contender to fit him in under the salary cap.

He has played his entire 10 year NHL career in Columbus, so nobody is questioning his loyalty to the team that selected him first overall in the 2002 NHL entry draft.

However, the Columbus Blue Jackets own an NHL-worst record of 16-34-6 and it just seems that both Nash and the Blue Jackets organization have realized that it's time for both sides to move on.