The NHL draft is just days away and free agency will open up soon after that. Here are some notes on the possibility of Rick Nash being traded to a New Jersey Devils division rival plus five thoughts.

- Columbus Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline, who does great work for the Columbus Dispatch, has been reporting that he expects Blue Jackets Captain Rick Nash to be moved this week, with the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes, among others, listed as the favorites to land his services.

While everything has been pretty quiet in terms of who's offering what and if the asking price for Nash is the same now as it was at the Trade Deadline, but one thing is for sure; the New York Rangers are still the favorite. It was pretty evident in the playoffs that they could have really used Nash's offense and they have all the pieces Scott Howson and the Blue Jackets could want and more, so ultimately I think it's a matter of not if but when he ends up in New York.

I could be wrong, as I've been wrong before, but I expect Derek Stepan and Michael Del Zotto to be two of the key pieces the Rangers will eventually part with if they want to land Nash.

How do Devils fans feel about the possibility of Nash being traded to a division rival?

1. The St. Louis Blues signed defenseman Barret Jackman to a three-year contract extension worth 9.25 million dollars (3.083 cap hit) today. I expect restricted free agent Mark Fayne and his agent to be looking at that contract closely as a comparable. What they do for their respective teams is pretty similar. With that said, due to Jackman being a pending unrestricted free agent where as Fayne is a restricted free agent I expect him to sign for a little less than Jackman signed for due to a lack of leeway. I'm thinking Fayne will sign a multi-year extension worth about 2.5 million dollars per year.

Fans don't give Fayne much credit, but he's a solid defensive defenseman who is still young and will only get better with age. While his offensive talents or numbers won't 'wow' you, he established himself as a solid second pairing defenseman this season.

2. Devils prospects Reid Boucher and Blake Pietila were invited to Team USA's World Junior Development Camp today. Both players had respectable seasons with Sarnia (OHL) and Michigan Tech (NCAA) this year, so it will be interesting to see how they do in the development camp.

3. After thinking about it quite a bit over the last few days, I think Bryce Salvador will end up testing free agency. He was very good for the Devils this year, but he's not getting any younger and his play should only go downhill from this point. People forget, he is a 36 years old. There's not much room on the blue line and I don't see Lou Lamoriello moving one of his younger, capable defenseman so he can keep a 36-year old around for another year or two. I think Salvador will test free agency, and sign a two year deal worth about 3 million dollars per season.

4. I've been asked quite a bit about what I would do with Alexei Ponikarovsky. Personally I would bring him back on a two-year contract as long as his asking price is reasonable. I think if he's asking for more than two million dollars per season Lamoriello will let him walk.

5. I've been asked a few times about the possibility of Lamoriello signing Dennis Wideman next month, and to be honest I don't see him signing in New Jersey, especially if Parise stays. Wideman put up 40 plus points this past season and he'll likely be looking to cash in come July. I think he'll end up pricing himself out of New Jersey's range.

If Wideman would settle for 3.75-4.25 million per on a 2-3 year deal I could possibly see something being worked out, but if he wants more money or term than that I think he'll end up signing elsewhere, for sure.

- Want to know more about 2012 draft eligible players? Head over to TheHockeyGuys.net to check out the staff's collaborated top-60 rankings plus in-depth writeups on about 10 of the top draft eligible players currently playing in the OHL written by yours truly.

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