NHL Trade Rumors: Breaking Down Likely Landing Spots for Rick Nash

We have a winner for most coveted prize at the NHL trade deadline, and that's Rick Nash. Now to decipher which team is ready to actually take home the top prize in hockey. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets find themselves in the bottom of the hockey barrel with 41 points and the rest of the league sitting on top of them. 

They also happen to house Nash, a talent that could push a few contenders over the top and into the realm of Stanley Cup guarantees. 

It's a no-brainer that a this team would dangle Nash out as the best way to rebuild, but it will come at a steep price. Here is the latest on the Nash, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the most interesting teams that would like to trade with them. 

Los Angeles Kings

The Kings continue to fight to get Nash, despite ESPN's Pierre LeBrun stating there is still hope for an L.A. landing. 

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The Kings have some pretty attractive assets, including young goalie Jonathan Bernier and blueliner Jack Johnson. More importantly, there’s incredible pressure on Lombardi to find a fix for his goal-starved team, which remains last in the NHL in offense. If he strikes out on Nash, Jeff Carter could be the consolation prize.

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New York Rangers

The Rangers hardly have to rock the boat, sitting atop the Eastern Conference with 81 points, but there is no harm flirting with perfection. 

The Rangers have made no secret as to their interests in Nash, but he may come at too steep a price for New York. The New York Post's Larry Brooks breaks down what Columbus would like in a trade. 

According to Brooks, Columbus wants Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto, prospect Chris Kreider and either a first-rounder or another top prospect. The Rangers would be fine on every last aspect of that, except for McDonagh and Del Zotto, who are both untouchable. 

The Rangers will have to get creative quickly if they want to lure Nash away from other suitors.

Boston Bruins

This is another team that finds Columbus asking for the world as ESPNBoston.com's James Murphy tweets.

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Told by numerous NHL sources that yes BOS and CLB have spoken regarding Rick Nash but CLB wants Tuukka Rask and that's non-starter for BOS

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Things are grim on a Boston landing for Nash. The Jackets want the coveted Tuukka Rask and that's only the beginning.

The Bruins will have to get desperate in a hurry for this deal to go down.

Philadelphia Flyers

CSN's Tom Panaccio reported there was some interest in talent the Flyers have. Columbus asked about James van Riemsdyk, Sergei Bobrovsky, a draft pick and Brayden Schenn or Sean Couturier. 

That is all ancient history according to Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch, Nash has not included the Flyers on a list of his desired destinations, which includes: Rangers, Sharks, Leafs, Canucks, Bruins and Kings. 

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