NHL Trade Rumors: Dealing Rick Nash to Red Wings Would Be Bad Move for Columbus

I know the Columbus Blue Jackets haven't ever finished higher than third in their division, but good teams don't genuinely trade marquee players within the same division.

If the Blue Jackets dealt Rick Nash to the Red Wings, that's exactly what they'd be doing. According to Aaron Portzline of The Columbus Dispatch, the Red Wings are a possible suitor for Nash.

As of now, Detroit is one of the teams that meets Nash's approval and the Wings certainly have the players to make a deal with Columbus.

But beyond players, cap space and line fits, the Blue Jackets can't trade the best player the organization has ever had to a perennial division power. That would be the equivalent of the Cubs' organization trading the ivy off Wrigley Field's outfield walls to the St. Louis Cardinals.

The ivy is the best reason to come to a Cubs game. Nash is that to the Blue Jackets and, even if the package the Wings offer is attractive, they must resist.

If this team has aspirations of ever becoming a legitimate threat in the Central Division, it can't make deals that strengthen the competition. Were it not the annual doormat of the division, the situation may be different, but as it is, this potential move would be plain dumb.

Scott Howson would be wise to tell Nash to formally ex one name off his list. Sending Nash to the Rangers is still the best move for all parties involved.

Nash wants to be there, the Rangers could desperately use his scoring and the Blue Jackets could receive a handsome package in return. It allows them to presumably take a step towards their division rivals without giving them ammunition.

In the end, that's the whole point of trades and free-agent signings.

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