NHL Trade Deadline: Rick Nash's Stay with Blue Jackets Only Temporary

Rick Nash was guaranteed to be heading away from Columbus, only to see a myriad of rumors fall flat at the NHL trade deadline. Don't get too comfortable, Blue Jackets fans. Nash will not be a permanent fixture on your team.

ESPN's Pierre LeBrun reported via Twitter the biggest non-story of the day. Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash was not going anywhere on a frantic deadline day.

"

Scott Howson confirms via text that Rick Nash stayed put

— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) February 27, 2012"

Columbus' general manager had been fielding calls on his captain for weeks, and the deadline featured a bevy of rumors that had the New York Rangers and other teams getting creative, only to be just short of something that would get Howson excited. 

In a rare turn, a team had the most sough-after commodity on the market, and instead banked on value rising after a few months of contemplation. 

This summer will feature yet another round of the Rick Nash sweepstakes, and will no doubt culminate on a deal near the NHL draft; it just has to. 

At 27 years old, the Blue Jackets are faced with one of two paths regarding the face of their franchise. They either lock him up for the duration of his career and bank on one of those seasons being a winner, hoping youth and free agency brings them fortunes. 

Or they could deal him to make sure that happens. 

Nash is doing no good as the face of a franchise that is losing far too many games to be relevant. His real value is as a chip to bigger and better things in the form of picks and youthful talent. That is the hope anyway, as some fairly good trades were reportedly sent to Columbus before being shot down. 

TSN's Darren Dreger reports just this via Twitter.

"

Don't know details, but indications are NYR made a mammoth offer for Rick Nash today and CBJ declined.#tradecentre

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 27, 2012"

Howson better be reading this market correctly, because he just gambled on Nash being far more valuable in the near future than he was on Monday. 

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