NHL Trade Rumors: Rangers GM Backs out of Rick Nash Trade

Apparently the asking price was just too much. 

The New York Rangers dropped out of the race to bring in center Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets, apparently because his current team is looking for too much compensation to trade their captain to New York. 

The Rangers, currently in first place in the NHL's Eastern Conference, were hoping that they could bring in Nash to help them in their quest for their first Stanley Cup since 1994. 

Glen Sather, New York Rangers general manager, has been notable for willing to give up the price needed in the past to bring in the best possible players for his team.

Whether it was paying Brad Richards a contract that made him the top paid player this season or it was paying an injury prone Marian Gaborik a five-year, $37.5 million contract, the Rangers' GM managed to guarantee those players would be in New York. 

And it's worked.

The Rangers are looking like the best team in the Eastern Conference and a team to fear come the playoffs.

Perhaps, this tells a tale that the Jackets are just looking for far too much in compensation for Nash. Nash has been fantastic for the Jackets and will be fantastic wherever he plays, but it appears that the Blue Jackets will struggle to move their superstar before this year's trade deadline, which is only hours away.

If Nash is going anywhere, it's not going to be New York. And with the Rangers no longer interested, it would be surprising to see the Jackets' forward leaving Columbus before the NHL offseason begins in July.