Rick Nash Trade Speculation: 4 Teams That Should Be on Nash's Wish List

Rick Nash has been dealt a tough hand as far as his team's level of success. Perhaps that has never been more obvious than it is now, as his Columbus Blue Jackets sit at the bottom of the league with an abysmal 40 points.

In its 10-year history, the team has never been considered a serious playoff contender, and it has only made the postseason once since its inception, getting swept in the first round by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009.

Despite his team's play, Nash has long been among the NHL's most talented forwards. Hence, if Nash wants out of Columbus, there will be no shortage of potential buyers. In fact, interest in Nash should stem from every team, save one.

While everyone has Nash on their wish list, who should be on his? Like any player, Nash wants a shot at a the Stanley Cup; but who would be his best bet to actually achieve that goal?

Not so fast, Detroit.

The Red Wings have been good for a long time, and they look to be peaking this season.

However, with the age of Nicklas Lidstrom and several of its depth players, Detroit will likely have one or two more great seasons before settling down for a bit of a rebuild. You might say they're the king of the hill, but will soon be in sharp decline.

Nash is still only 27 years old, and he would be wise to not jump on a team like Detroit that has such a small window to win another Cup. What Nash needs is an established team that is on the rise, ready to knock the Detroits of the league off their throne.

Essentially, Nash needs to pace himself, as he won't be any good to his new team hyperventilating over the excitement of actually playing in a playoff game.

With that in mind, there are plenty of teams in the league that would be considered well-established and on their way to the top.

Here are a few that should be on Nash's wish list.

Vancouver Canucks

If the Red Wings are the king of the hill, the Canucks are next in line, at least as far as the Western Conference is concerned.

Vancouver boasts a powerful team and is always competitive year to year. With a strong core consisting of Daniel and Henrik Sedin, along with Ryan Kesler, the Canucks have the pieces in place to be competitive for years to come

In addition, Vancouver provides a winning atmosphere for Nash to play in, along with plenty of racetrack available to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.

Fresh off of a loss to the Boston Bruins in last year's final, the Canucks will no doubt have plenty of opportunities in the next several years to get Nash's name on the Cup, should he land in Vancouver.

Toronto Maple Leafs

President and GM Brian Burke has assembled an incredible amount of young talent in Toronto.

Adding Nash to this team would not only put Nash on a winning club that is on its way up, but it would immediately make him a centerpiece in a city that adores its hockey team.

If Nash doesn't want to sacrifice his own star power for the sake of playing for a contender, Toronto would be an excellent compromise, with room for his capabilities and the potential for a very bright future.

Los Angeles Kings

Though the Los Angeles Kings have been guilty of some inconsistency this season, they're considered one of several up-and-coming teams in the West.

Their roster is chock-full of talent, and with the emergence of Jonathan Quick as a Vezina-caliber goalie, this team is ready to unseat the San Jose Sharks as the Pacific Division favorite within the next few years. 

This option would require some patience on Nash's part, but the return could be worth the wait.

St. Louis Blues

Like the Kings, the St. Louis Blues are an up-and-coming young team with a ton of potential and an excellent outlook.

Should Detroit see a decline in the next few years, St. Louis will be next in line to take its place in the division or at least make things extremely competitive. Competing with Detroit will mean competing for one of the first four seeds in the Western Conference.

Nash could be the final ingredient necessary to make St. Louis an elite NHL team once again. Anyone remember how many years in a row the Blues made the playoffs before 2005?