NHL Trade Rumors: The Latest News on Rick Nash

The Rick Nash trade deadline drama could continue until Monday's deadline, but what is the latest news when it comes to Nash?

Here are the latest compiled tweets from Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

So these are the facts that Portzline has presented on the status of Rick Nash trade talks. Teams have made offers, but these offers are not quite what Scott Howson had in mind. After all, Howson is dealing the face of the franchise. So after reading those updates, is it safe to assume that Nash won't be traded before the deadline? Quite the contrary, because it is never safe to get complacent with assumptions.

There is still a good chance that Nash gets traded—well at least according to Darren Dreger— before the deadline. Why is this the case?

Dreger sent out this tweet to explain the possible route Scott Howson could take.             

Nash Will Always Control Destiny

The unique situation that Howson is in with regard to Nash, is that he is dealing with a player who possesses a tight no-movement clause. Rick Nash is in the driver's seat for all negotiations.

Howson may have an ideal asking price, but Nash will always control his destination. Teams on his list are ones that Nash will waive his NMC for. Right now, what teams are willing to pay would likely be significantly higher than what they would pay to acquire Nash in the offseason.

For example, the New York Rangers are the front-runner to acquire Rick Nash. What Glen Sather is willing to pay now is a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Come July, the Rangers, regardless of their playoff outcome, are going to have dispensable cap room to pursue a free agent or two.

The Rangers could, in actuality, sign impending free agent Zach Parise or Ryan Suter, or they could attempt to make a play at Shea Weber if Nashville can't meet his qualifying offer. While these are hypotheticals, they have an impact on the Nash negotiations

While these players could cost the same in a cap charge, the Rangers wouldn't lose any prospects or additional assets. At this point, the Rangers would have no need to trade for Nash.

In this scenario the Blue Jackets lose.

Why?

They lose because they lose a team to leverage assets with. If there are three potential teams on the list, there may be one or two in July. At that point, the asking price becomes significantly lower and the Jackets will get less than Nash is worth. If there are less teams Nash is willing to go to, and less teams willing to pay for Nash, the Jackets will be in a tough situation.

The Jackets realistically can not hold onto Nash. The franchise needs to start the rebuilding process, so accepting a good package now would be the best course of action to take. If the franchise deals Nash, they can head into the offseason with a plan to rebuild.

The next course of action could be acquiring veteran players to tutor the bounty of young players and prospects already in the system. It isn't easy to trade the face of a franchise, but teams have done this before. The Atlanta Thrashers (Winnipeg Jets) traded Ilya Kovalchuk, and the Minnesota Wild allowed Marian Gaborik to walk away via free agency.

What Is Going to Happen?

The highest price paid for Nash will be between now and Monday, and that is a fact. Teams looking for that one piece to make the playoff push will add Nash. Howson would be wise to take the best package he gets now. There is nothing worse than trading the face of your franchise and getting a mediocre package.

The trade deadline is Monday at 3:00 p.m. EST. Nash is the top prize, and there are teams that want answers. Will Nash stay or will he go? Right now the odds are 50-50, but Howson would be wise to make this whole scenario quick and painless. Does he really want to lose more fans by dragging this through the summer?

While anything can happen in the next 72 hours, right now Nash is a Blue Jacket—but his allegiance on Monday and the next few years is still up in the air.

Tom Urtz, Jr. is an NHL featured columnist. For NHL news, updates and alerts about players: