NHL Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Must Deal Disgruntled Rick Nash in Offseason

Rick Nash, the most discussed player leading up to the NHL trade deadline, ended up staying with the Columbus Blue Jackets. At least for now. It's clear the talented winger still isn't happy with the team's direction, making a summer trade the best option for everybody involved.

Michael Arace of the Columbus Dispatch explained an awkward situation in Columbus:

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Instead, the GM and the captain spent three weeks declining to respond to “rumors” and “speculation” when the truth was that the star asked for a trade and handed over a list of prospective destinations. There was a divorce going on, and they hoped the kids would not notice.

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No matter what Nash and general manager Scott Howson say now that the deadline has passed, it has to be taken with a grain of salt because the two sides are stuck with each other until the season ends. The relationship has been fractured and repairing it won't be easy.

Nash is on pace to have his worst season since 2006-07 with just 44 points through 64 games. A lack of talent elsewhere on the team's last-place roster has certainly played a role in his drop of production.

So it's not a major surprise the 27-year-old Canadian began searching for an opportunity to play in a better situation.

He still has six years left on his monster contract and the Blue Jackets aren't going anywhere fast. By the time his deal runs out, he'll be past his prime and who knows what opportunities will be available? One thing's for sure, that's a long time to wait to find out.

It's also a long time to manage a broken bond. Since Nash and the team are on two different pages about the future, the tension will probably only continue to grow with each extra day he stays in Columbus.

That's why the team should explore every possible option to grant his trade wish during the offseason. At that point, the Blue Jackets will have a new face of the franchise thanks to their high draft pick, so losing Nash won't be as costly in terms of fan interest.

Teams on Nash's list would also be more willing to talk trade after the season finishes. It's tough to make a blockbuster trade involving several key pieces in the middle of a playoff race.

Blue Jackets fans would love for both sides to shake hands and move past the entire incident, but that's always easier said than done. The last few months have caused a lot of issues to develop, and they won't be easier to patch up.

Trading Nash would allow Columbus to add a couple more pieces for its rebuilding effort while also eliminating any potential distractions. He would get a fresh slate with a new team to get his career back on track.

It's not an easy decision to make, but it's the best one.