New York Rangers: After Signing Pyatt, Is the Price for Nash Falling?

After two days of silence, on Tuesday the Rangers announced the signing of forward Taylor Pyatt to a two-year, $3.1 million deal.

Pyatt, 30, scored nine goals and 10 assists in 73 games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes. In 11 seasons in the NHL, Pyatt has played for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres. In 755 career games, Pyatt has 130 goals and 134 assists for 264 points.

It isn't the sexy move some would like to see, but Pyatt is a solid depth signing that will fit in well on the third or fourth line. The signing more or less removes Ruslan Fedotenko from returning for a third stint on Broadway.

Nash still in the cards

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch had several Tweets this afternoon stating a trade between the Rangers and the Columbus Blue Jackets involving star winger Rick Nash does not need to include Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan or Ryan McDonagh.

It makes you wonder what a deal would then include, or what Jackets GM Scott Howson is looking for in dealing Nash. A move must come, as both sides clearly soured on this relationship last season, when it became a he-said-she-said situation as to who asked for the move.

I've been outspoken on Twitter stating that if the Rangers can get Nash and keep those three players, they should do it. This team is deprived of offense, especially with Marian Gaborik being sidelined until at least December. Despite the big contract, Nash brings that offense.

Some have argued Nash's contract is a killer and he's on the decline, but at 28-years-old, he's still got about five or six very good years left. The contract is brutal, but isn't impossible to work with if Brandon Dubinsky is included in the trade, as his $4 million-plus contract will basically cut Nash's deal in half in terms of added payroll.

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