For the second time this season I’ve called upon some of the writers of Blue Line Station to give me their opinions on a topic. Today we’re going to discuss the flavor of the month, Rick Nash. Pretty much every single analyst or journalist has provided input on the Rick Nash situation. We’ve heard all sorts of proposed packages the Rangers might have to give up to get Nash. We’ve heard all sorts of teams Nash could be traded to. Pretty much every aspect of Nash’s potential trade has been covered, and there are certainly as many reasons to believe he isn’t going to be traded to the Rangers as there are reasons to believe he is New York bound.
So in light of the overwhelming amount of information, speculation, and rumors that have been thrown in our faces, I asked some of our writers to make a definitive, bold assertion. Will Rick Nash be a New York Rangers by the time the trading deadline passes? Keep reading to see their responses.
Alex:
Yes, I think he will.
Obviously Glen Sather isn’t going to sweeten his reported offer
drastically, particularly in light of the recent comments by Rick Nash’s
agent, but I think he has enough flexibility in terms of available
pieces (Dubinsky, Hagelin, Thomas, Erixon, McIlrath, draft picks, etc) to get
a deal done by 3pm Monday. Prior to Nash’s agent’s comments I’d have
backed Scott Howson to retain him until the summer and then re-asses
the situation, but it looks like their bridges have now been burned.
Matt:
Yes I do think Nash will be a Ranger. Toronto may be in it as well as San Jose, but with those teams not being as good a fit with Nash I don’t think it happens that he goes there. Today (Saturday) Nash’s agent broke his silence and said he wants to get this done before the deadline which implies there is no “make this trade in the summer” kind of deal. Now that Nash is pushing and Sather has waited long enough, I think Nash will be coming to Broadway bfore the end of the deadline.
Michael:
Yes. None of these ridiculous rumors of Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto going the other way will come true, but I think the Rangers have enough other young pieces to offer along with Brandon Dubinsky or Carl Hagelin. Glen Sather knows better now than to gut a team’s strength like the Rangers’ top four defensemen and adding Nash would improve the team beyond this single year. Both sides want it done badly enough and it will happen.
Dan:
I’m going to differ from the majority and say No. He will not be dealt. Criticize Sather all you want – and trust me, I’ve done that quite often – but he’s been good about building around the young core of this team over the past couple of seasons, and I don’t think he’s going to blow things up now. Furthermore, I don’t think Nash gets traded at all at the deadline. It’s not a do-or-die situation for Columbus – he’s not a pending UFA, he’s signed for a couple more years and it’s not like he’s demanded a trade from the Blue Jackets. I don’t fault them for their high asking price, but in the end I think Sather will value the team’s chemistry more and will back down from making a deal.
So Dan is alone in thinking Nash won’t be a Ranger on Monday. Obviously, there are valid arguments from both sides. Dan notes that the Blue Jackets are not in a situation where they absolutely have to trade him, but Alex and Matt also point out that Nash, even though he hasn’t outright demanded a trade, is using the media to strongly urge Howson to make a deal. Everybody does believe that the Rangers have the pieces to make a deal for Nash. The question becomes if Scott Howson is willing to swallow his pride and compromise, because I’d be shocked if Glen Sather would be willing to move a Ryan McDonagh or Derek Stepan.