NHL Trade Rumors: Sharks Must Not Overdo Pursuit of Rick Nash

While Rick Nash is the biggest fish to hook at the trading deadline, strong teams like the San Jose Sharks can't go wild in pursuing the Columbus winger. Doing so would be giving up far too much to make a Stanley Cup run, something they're more than capable of doing right now. 

According to Darren Dreger of the NHL Network and Brian Compton of NHL.com, the Sharks' interest in Nash does have a limit.

Per Compton:

"

Sources have told Dreger that the Columbus Blue Jackets wanted Logan Couture in return, but that was quickly rejected by Sharks general manager Doug Wilson.

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The Sharks are wise to reject giving up Couture and need to follow suit on some of their other young talent. While Nash has the bigger name, he hasn't necessarily been a better player in the 2011-2012 season. Actually, Couture's numbers have been decidedly superior. 

	Goals	Assists	+/-	Hits	Blocks
Logan Couture	27	24	+7	26	52
Rick Nash	20	22	-21	92	13

The blocks discrepancy is actually the most significant, as that helps keeps shots away from the San Jose net. 

On top of all of that, Couture is also five years younger than Nash, plays center and has a strong chemistry with the team. 

While they're in the midst of a down stretch, the Sharks are still on a very short list of Stanley Cup contenders as they are presently constructed. Their fans should be encouraged that they quickly refuted a Logan Couture trade, but San Jose has other young "secondary" players that they can't afford to lose. 

Couture is the only one who's been specifically tied to Nash, but Ryane Clowe and Joe Pavelski would bring similar value and also must be held. 

The Sharks have made the Western Conference Finals in each of the last two seasons and while this hasn't been a banner year for the team, they still sit atop the Pacific Division standings. 

Looking for a big-name, outside jolt (like Nash) is okay, but it can't come at the expense of any of the current group of top players. They are a team that has yet to hit their stride this year, and still sit in great position to get to the playoffs and make a run once there. 

If they can bring in a great player without unloading the nucleus, fine. If not, they are better off keeping this group together. They are largely the same team that has been successful over the last few years.

The core is there to make another long run in the playoffs, so they can't go nuts in an attempt to bring in a big name stud.

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