NHL Trade Rumors: San Jose Sharks Must Acquire Rick Nash to Be True Contenders

For the past several years, the San Jose Sharks have been among the elite teams in the Western Conference. Despite that, they have been unable to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. If the Sharks truly want to get over the hump, then they must make a play for Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash.

According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Sharks are very interested in Nash and have been in trade negotiations with the Blue Jackets. San Jose reportedly balked at Columbus' request of rising star forward Logan Couture being involved in the deal, but talks are still ongoing.

The Sharks are excelling this year as they always do, sitting in third place in the Western Conference. There is no denying their supreme talent, but it's clear that a shakeup has to happen in order for the team to reach the next level. San Jose took the first step this past offseason, dealing Dany Heatley and Devin Setoguchi in separate trades to the Minnesota Wild for Martin Havlat and Brent Burns.

While Burns has played well, Havlat has missed more than 30 games due to injury, so the jury is still out regarding whether the trades were beneficial. When it comes down to it, though, the Sharks still have the same core, consisting of forwards Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, although the likes of Couture, Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe have become core players as well.

Both Thornton and Marleau are still getting the job done with 53 and 46 points on the season respectively, but it's clear that there's a missing piece. Trading Thornton and/or Marleau over the past few seasons has been rumored, but both are in San Jose for this season at least, so it makes more sense to add than subtract.

Nash is the biggest fish on the market with six career 30-goal seasons and 20 goals this year. At 6'4" and 216 lbs., he is also the quintessential power forward that can mesh well with the playmaking abilities of Thornton, Marleau or Couture.

The issue, of course, is money. Nash has a massive $7.8 million cap hit through the 2017/18 season, so the Sharks must find a way to expand their current cap room of a little under $1.2 million. Dealing Couture, whose hit rises to nearly $3 million next year, is an option, but the Sharks would be smart to hang on to such a good, young player.

There isn't really any indication as to what the Sharks could give up, but you would have to think that Clowe and his $3.625 million cap hit would be involved. Pavelski and his $4 million cap hit could be a bargaining chip as well. While the Sharks certainly don't want to part with him, you have to give in order to receive.

The way the Sharks are currently constructed, it's doubtful that they will fare any better in the playoffs than they have in previous years. Bringing in Nash would give them the big-bodied, consistent goal scorer that they have always lacked, however, and could change the culture of the team.

Acquiring Nash isn't without risk, because it will take a big financial commitment and good pieces will be going the other way. Neither Thornton nor Marleau are getting any younger, though, so it's important to make a Stanley Cup run while there is still time.

San Jose has many of the pieces that tend to comprise a Cup-winning team. All the Sharks need now is something to bring it all together, and Nash could very well be the straw that will stir a Stanley Cup drink.