NHL Trade Rumors: Dealing for Rick Nash Not Worth the Risk for Rangers

This year's New York Rangers team is good enough. It's not perfect, sure, but since when is there such thing as a perfect team?

The Rangers can only move closer to perfection. One way they could do that is by acquiring an additional scoring threat to complement their outstanding defense.

You know where this is headed. The rumor mill has had the Rangers kicking the tires on Columbus Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash, who is easily the best offensive player on the trading block as we speed toward the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

The word from The Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday was that the Blue Jackets have yet to engage in serious talks with the Rangers. Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson has met with Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren and Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke, but the Rangers are one of several teams waiting in the wings, presumably discussing how hard they want to go after Nash.

According to the New York Post, it is merely "believed" that Howson and Rangers GM Glen Sather have "chatted." It is also believed that Sather thinks Nash would "fortify" the Rangers, which kinda goes without saying.

The problem, naturally, is the asking price:

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Rather, Sather is fazed by Columbus’ asking price, believed to be Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto, Boston College winger Chris Kreider and either a first-round pick or another of the Rangers’ top prospects.

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Given the various rumors that have come out about the price tag the Blue Jackets have placed on Nash, this package sounds about right. If the Rangers want him, they'll have to pay a heavy price.

Even if the Rangers were to talk the Blue Jackets down a little bit, they'd still have to pay a king's ransom to get Nash. His is an expensive price tag. At best, it can only become less expensive.

The Rangers have virtually no incentive to sell the farm to bring in Nash. They'd be getting a great offensive player, sure, but they'd also be messing with the team's chemistry in a significant and decidedly dangerous way.

Messing with team chemistry is not something Sather should want to do. The Rangers have a pretty big lead over the Boston Bruins for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, and everyone should believe that the Rangers are a Stanley Cup-caliber team as they are currently constructed. They could use more offense, but their ability to prevent goals will allow them to go far once the postseason arrives.

Even if the Rangers were to bring in Nash without sacrificing a good chunk of the team (fat chance of that happening), things would still be dicey. They'd have to move quickly to find ways to incorporate him, which could lead to some immediate struggles. Even if they were to figure things out, it's likely that the Rangers wouldn't be significantly better than they are now.

It's just not worth it for the Rangers to break the bank for Nash. They're already in a good place. Trying to get in a better place requires them to sacrifice too much.