In our next installment of “Trade Deadline Options”, the crew at Ranger Nation takes a look at Columbus Blue Jackets winger Rick Nash.

Rick Nash

Christopher Decker (@HockeyGuy_Chris)
Pro’s: Who wouldn’t want a natural goal scorer who has broken the 30-goal mark six times in his career? Rick Nash would significantly upgrade any offense he gets dealt to. What makes Nash stand out is the fact that he has put up great offensive numbers on a terrible Columbus Blue Jackets team. He is the sole reason whyColumbusis even on the map.

Con’s:  Getting a player like Nash would require the Rangers to practically give up the farm. Nash has only had one year of playoff experience so any team that picks him up would obviously be wary of this.

Conclusion: Rumors surrounding Nash getting traded have more or less turned me off since day one. While the Rangers are contending for a deep playoff run, picking up a player like Nash and, in turn, giving up a significant chunk of their youth system, may not be worth it in the end for a guy who has never had to be in a spotlight likeNew York, and who has minimal playoff experience.

Pick him up or Pass: Pass

Jim Reilly (@jambodelta99)
Pro’s: Rick Nash was the first overall pick of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Still just 27 years old, Nash has size;  6-4, 215 pounds, skill; 276 career goals including two 40 goal seasons and four 30 goal seasons. He shoots the puck. And I mean, he shoots the puck. 305 shots on goal for Columbus last season in 75 games. Would be the perfect 1^st line Left Wing that this franchise hasn’t had since Adam Graves was taking pounding in front of opposing team’s nets on a nightly basis. For such a big man, he is a master of the shootout, one of the best in the league since the skills competition was started and is 4 for 8 this season. Would be beloved almost instantly by MSG fans from the moment he stepped on the ice in Broadway Blue.

Con’s: Oh that contract. Nash has a contract that is a virtual albatross. A 7.8 million cap hit each of the next six seasons until it ends following the 2017-18 season. It’s a cap buster. With the league’s next collective bargaining agreement so up in the air, committing to a contract of that length with that high of a cap number could be long term suicide for the franchise. Compounding the issue, in three years, Lundqvist, Gaborik, Girardi and Callahan all become unrestricted free agents. Who knows if the salary cap will keep going up as it has in recent years. It could very well go down once the next CBA is determined. Acquiring Rick Nash seems like a very unrealistic gamble Glen Sather would take. Just doesn’t seem like Slats style. He’d sign him to a deal like that, but wouldn’t trade for it.

Conclusion: I don’t believe Rick Nash to the Rangers is happening. Definitely not now. Besides the financial ramifications, a trade like this couldn’t be made without including players who make the club tick right now. It would be a chemistry disrupting move involving several assets going in return to Columbus. Perhaps Nash would be an acquisition the Rangers would consider over the summer, but with the trading deadline now just 19 days away, a deal of this magnitude looks extremely unlikely, no matter how bad the power play looks.

Pick him up or Pass: Pick him up? No, I don’t think so. Very possible he’ll go somewhere else though.

Glen Miller (@Gkmkiller)
Pro’s: Nash would certainly address the Rangers perceived desire for another dynamic and legitimate top-six winger. He’s averaged just fewer than 36 goals per season over the last three campaigns and his career goal-per game rate of 0.428/GM prorates to a 35-goal output over a full schedule.  That production would be welcome in the Rangers lineup. He’s also a threat on the PP with 80 career markers on the man-advantage. Plus, playing for Columbus, Nash has done this with a less-than-stellar cast around him.

Con’s:  Where to start? His contract is a monster; six more seasons after this one with a $7.8 million cap hit. With the current CBA set to expire and questions surrounding how the next salary cap structure will appear, assuming a contract the nature of Nash’s would certainly qualify as risky.

While Nash has posted some solid numbers with the man-advantage, including a 19 PP goal season early in his career, his actual output isn’t much better than those of some of the current Rangers as the following table demonstrates.

*Note: Nash’s stats encompassed his performance over the last five seasons.

As the table shows, Nash’s performance while a man up doesn’t necessarily blow away those of this year’s top three PP scorers for the Blueshirts. Now it’s conceivable just adding a player of Nash’s indisputable skill level would be enough to boost the Rangers PP but there’s no guarantee either.

Finally, the Jackets will not trade Nash simply to make a move nor will they deal him for relative pennies on the dollar. They will expect a heavy price to be paid in terms of talent. One would imagine the starting point for a deal would be a young roster player (think AA, Step, etc.), a top prospect (think Kreider) and a first-round pick. An offer of Boyle, Ryan Bourque and our first wouldn’t get it done. That’s a price the Rangers might be reluctant to pay.

Conclusion:  Most teams in the league would love to have a player of Nash’s caliber in their lineup. There’s a reason he was the top overall pick in his draft year; he has some serious skill. Still, the contract plus the cost in terms of players needed to acquire him would make this deal a tough one to make.

Pick him up or Pass: I say we have to pass.

Jonathan Ragus (@JonathanRagus)
Pro’s:  Who would not want Rick Nash? This is a name Rangers fans have craved for over the past few seasons now. The guy is a power forward who can score goals at will. It seems Nash has been in the NHL forever but is only 27 years old. He still has A LOT of years left in him of great hockey.

Con’s: His contract and the hit to the cap. Would take some wheeling and dealing for the Rangers to be able to fit him on the team. Also, the package of prospects and picks that would have to go back to Columbus to acquire Nash. There are a few untouchables on the Rangers roster and be very sure that those are the players Columbus would want back for their star.

Conclusion: I just don’t see how it would be possible, without clearing out the farm, to land Rick Nash. As much as this guy could be the very answer for the Rangers this year and in the future, it’s just not logical. The Rangers are over that hump of clearing out their prospects for big name players. But damn, it would be amazing to acquire a player of Nash’s caliber at the trade deadline.

Pick him up or Pass: I don’t think the Rangers will have an option to do either or. They will be looking elsewhere.

We want to hear your opinion. Should the Rangers pick up or pass on Rick Nash if given the opportunity? 

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