NHL Trade Rumors: New York Rangers Are Best Landing Spot for Rick Nash

Rick Nash remains a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets while the team attempts to find an acceptable deal from one of the six teams on the superstar's list.

At this point, the New York Rangers are still the best possible destination for Nash.

The Rangers are joined by the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks as teams Nash wouldn't mind getting traded to, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

Two things immediately stand out about Nash's choices. First, he clearly wants to play for a winning team after being stuck in Columbus for the first half of his career. And he also seemingly wants to avoid playing in Canada, where the pressure is far greater.

That's one of the main reasons the Rangers are a perfect fit. Not only are they a strong contender in the Eastern Conference, but when it comes to sports teams in New York City, the "Broadway Blueshirts" are still pretty far down on pecking order.

It's a situation that will allow Nash to play in a big market and get all the benefits from that without having to deal with the daily pressure that's associated with playing for one of the teams in Canada, where hockey is king.

In a hockey sense, the Rangers are in desperate need of more scoring depth. Even though they finished atop the conference last season, they were only in the middle of the pack in goals scored. A more balanced offense would really help come playoff time.

The dynamic duo of Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards did most of the heavy lifting, scoring a total of 66 goals and 76 assists. Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan provided some secondary help, but beyond that, the Rangers struggled to generate chances.

Adding Nash to the mix would at least give New York two viable scoring lines as the foundation of its offensive attack. It would also allow players who were forced to get top-six minutes last season to slide down into roles they are better suited for.

Getting to play alongside a playmaking center like Richards would virtually guarantee Nash hits the 30-goal mark for the sixth straight season and should even get within range of his career-high total of 41 set back in 2003-04.

All of those factors make it hard to believe Nash would find a better opportunity than New York. While it ultimately comes down to the Blue Jackets' decision, Nash would be wise to push for a move to the Rangers.

Madison Square Garden is the perfect place for him.