NHL Trade Rumors: Rick Nash Wouldn't Be Toronto Maple Leafs' Savior

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in for a very interesting finish to the 2011-2012 season. They have a shot to make the postseason, but they're going to have to work for it.

Granted, things will be even more interesting in Toronto if they make a deal for Columbus Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash.

The Maple Leafs are one of, I think, 100 different teams that have been linked to Nash. He's the top player on the trading block, and there's been no shortage of rumors about him.

The latest buzz concerning the Leafs comes straight from general manager Brian Burke, who spoke on TSN Radio on Wednesday morning. Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period had the scoop:

So if nothing else, we know that the Leafs have at least talked to Columbus about Nash. Nothing out of the ordinary, that.

Courtesy of Pro Hockey Talk, we also know that Burke spoke openly about possibly acquiring a netminder before the deadline. He also said he has no interest in making the playoffs only to get his "ass kicked."

So, in essence, he's only going to make a deal if he thinks it will lead to postseason success. Not exactly rocket science.

If it's between Nash and goaltending help, Burke's choice should be easy. Acquiring Nash wouldn't make much of a difference. Acquiring a goalie would.

Much like the Philadelphia Flyers, it makes little sense that the Leafs are interested in Nash because they're already a good offensive team. The Leafs have been inconsistent lately, but a lack of goals is typically not the problem when they lose. 

On the contrary, the Leafs allow too many goals, a problem that has plagued them all season. Despite being among the league leaders in goals scored with 181, the Leafs have given up 184. That's due in large part to the struggles they've experienced with their netminders.

Adding Nash would give the Leafs the ability to light up their opponent on a given night, but it wouldn't make much of a difference if they were continue to give up goals at the rate they've been giving them up this season. They will have traded a lot of key pieces and will be paying a lot of money and getting very little in return.

And no, the Leafs would not be a Stanley Cup-caliber team once getting to the postseason. Burke would still have to fear getting his ass kicked.

There are a lot of teams in the picture to acquire Nash, and the same reality that applies to most of them applies to the Maple Leafs: Nash just isn't worth it for them.