NHL Trade Rumors: Why Acquiring Rick Nash Would Cripple New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are already the best team in the Eastern Conference and are perfectly capable of winning a Stanley Cup as presently constructed. Acquiring Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets would be a serious blow to all that this franchise has built. 

Craig Custance of ESPN made a list of five teams that will be in on Nash as we move closer to the February 27 trade deadline, and the Rangers are No. 2

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Besides the salary-cap issues that New York would deal with if Glen Sather landed Nash, there is chemistry. The Rangers play well as a team and are primarily a homegrown group. Nash is a star player, but assembling stars in New York has never been the issue. "They have good chemistry going," said an NHL scout. "They're having a really, really good year. They have to be careful they don't do anything to mess that up."

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Therein lies the problem for the Rangers when deciding what to do. They do need help scoring goals, but it's not like they are so bad that it hurts their chances to win a Stanley Cup. 

The Rangers are currently 12th in the league with 2.8 goals per game. That is a very respectable total, and one that looks even better when you consider how strong they are on defense. 

Everything they have done this year is working. There is something to be said for not messing with a machine when it is running smoothly. 

Plus, you have to wonder how many pieces the Rangers would be giving up to bring Nash into the fold. If they could get him for one extremely talented young star, would it be worth it? Three solid players without star potential?

Another thing worth considering is, how much of an offensive upgrade is Nash? His production has gone down since setting career-highs in goals (40) and points (79) in 2008-09. 

If you want to attribute his drop in production to poor players surrounding him, there is some merit to that. But he is no longer the dynamic goal scorer he used to be. 

The risk is too great for the Rangers to pull the trigger on a deal. They should stand pat and take their chances in the playoffs with the great group they already have.

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