NHL Trade Rumors: Rangers Must Go All-in on for Blue Jackets' Rick Nash

With the NHL trade deadline quickly approaching, superstar Rick Nash could be on his way out of Columbus and into New York by tomorrow.

While Rick Nash has said that he is a “Blue Jacket today,” the Columbus Blue Jackets should take the Ryan McDonagh package and ship their former No. 1 overall pick to the Rangers while they still have the chance.

Nash, who has just recorded his eighth consecutive 20-goal season after a goal against Pittsburgh, has been at the forefront and center of constant trade talk in recent weeks.

“It’s been a great time living in Columbus,” said Nash in his most recent interview. “I’m a Blue Jacket today and we’re going to do everything we can to move forward as a team.” When asked if he thought that it was going to be his last game for Columbus, Nash responded by saying, “Not at all.”

Nash now has 20 goals and 22 assists on the season, and his agent seems to have bigger plans for the young superstar.

On Sunday, his agent said that he hoped Nash would be traded before the Monday trade deadline. Nash, who has recorded 32 goals in each of his last four seasons and 40 goals two different times in his career, is seen to be a likely fit for the New York Rangers.

The former No. 1 overall pick in 2002 is seen to garner interest from numerous clubs in the NHL, including a package from the Rangers that would include Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixon and prospect Chris Kreider.

On Saturday, the Rangers dealt Wojtek Wolski in a potential ploy to clear cap space and save room for a Rick Nash deal. Wolski clears $3.8 million off of the cap to bring in the massive $7.8 million contract of Nash. Nash is signed with that cumbersome contract until the 2017-18 season. 

According to ESPN’s Katie Strang, barring a change, the deal is seen as unlikely as the Rangers are unwilling to concede to the steep price that the Blue Jackets are now asking for.

Nash, however, is an elite scoring candidate and will help push the Rangers to a run at the championship.

Perhaps a more favorable deal would be Erixon, a first-round pick and either McDonagh or Del Zotto, but not both. Assuming that Nash’s agent gets his wish and the superstar is traded, the Rangers will have to outbid the San Jose Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs to ensure that the other teams do not land the scorer.

Mark Spector, of SportsNet Spec, said that the Erixon package would be the most that the Rangers are willing to give up.

For the Blue Jackets, it makes sense to follow the LeBron James-Chris Bosh-Jose Reyes-Albert Pujols model and at least get some value for their fleeting superstar.

For the Rangers, however, it’s time to sell the ship. The team has not been to the conference finals since 1997 and their record is the highest in the East. Now, more than any other time, is appropriate to take the final plunge and make a run at a title.

When the trade deadline comes around on Monday, expect to see the Rangers make a slight change of pace and try to finalize a deal.

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