Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Boston Bruins Must Win Nash Sweepstakes to Repeat

The Bruins cruised through November, December and January without a hitch, but a difficult February has proven that if they want to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions, they need to shore up their offense—and that's where Rick Nash comes in.

The Bruins are reportedly one of five teams the Blue Jackets forward would agree to be traded to prior to this year's NHL Trade Deadline on Feb. 27. The other four teams are the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings.

At 27 years old, Nash provides the offensive spark the Bruins have desperately needed over the last month. Since Feb. 2, they've gone 3-6, snagging two of those wins in shootouts. Over their last four games, they've been shut out twice and have scored a total of five goals.

For the last two years, the Bruins have been active at the trade deadline, acquiring Dennis Seidenberg in 2010 and Tomas Kaberle in 2011. This year, though, it's all about the offense, and Nash—as the top forward on the market—could be the answer.

This season, Nash has tallied 18 goals and 21 assists, and throughout his nine-year career, he's notched at least 27 goals in every season but his first.

Nash hasn't publicly commented on which team he prefers above all the others, instead choosing to focus on the present.

"Right now, I'm a Blue Jacket," he told the AP before Sunday's game against New York. "I don't really follow all those rumors. I worry about right now, and right now I've got a game to play in a couple of hours."

Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli's only concern in adding a player like Nash would be making sure such a move doesn't disrupt his team's chemistry, but given Chiarelli's history at the deadline, that shouldn't be much of an issue.

He knows that the Bruins need some offensive firepower to complement Tyler Seguin (46 points) and Patrice Bergeron (48 points), and Nash is just the spark they need to make a push for a second straight title.