For Rangers, Nash deal is still in works
Columbus Blue Jackets' Rick Nash returns to the bench after his second-period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Feb. 26, 2012) Credit: AP
The Rick Nash saga seems to be going down to the wire.
The Columbus Blue Jackets' front office Sunday mulled over offers for the elite power winger, who still could be dealt by Monday's 3 p.m. deadline. There also is the strong possibility that the Blue Jackets will hold out in the hope of getting better offers at the June entry draft.
Columbus was said to be adamant about obtaining players who the Rangers deemed untouchable: center Derek Stepan or No. 1 prospect Chris Kreider, a power forward at Boston College, as well as defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Michael Del Zotto.
The Rangers were believed to be offering Brandon Dubinsky, defenseman Tim Erixon, a forward prospect such as J.T. Miller or Christian Thomas, and a No. 1 draft pick.
That package, as of last evening, might not have been enough for Columbus general manager Scott Howson and the ownership. Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather was said to have drawn up alternate plans to acquire a secondary forward and depth defenseman.
Nash, 27, has scored at least 40 goals in a season twice and at least 30 six times. He has six years left on his contract, which carries an annual cap hit of $7.8 million.
While the executives huddled, Nash scored a shorthanded goal in a 4-2 loss in Pittsburgh. His appearance temporarily quieted the speculation that a deal was near, because players on the cusp of being traded generally are kept out of the lineup to avoid injuries.
After the game, Nash told The Columbus Dispatch: "It's been a great time living in Columbus. I'm a Blue Jacket today and we're going to do everything we can to move forward as a team. Like I said the other day, these fans deserve a winning team. They're the ones that have been the most patient."
He also offered a "no comment" when asked if he agreed with his agent, Joe Resnick, who said Saturday that he hoped a trade could be made before the deadline. In his remarks, Resnick also said the short list of teams to which Nash would approve a trade would not change in the offseason.
Asked if the possibility of playing his final game with the Blue Jackets, the team that selected him as the first overall pick in 2002, was in the back of his mind, Nash said, "Not at all."
The Eastern Conference-leading Rangers, who were off Sunday, host the Devils Monday night. Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur are expected to be in the nets. Where Nash will be is unclear.
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