The rumor firestorm has become white hot in intensity in the wake of a report from RDS last night that Columbus has begun shopping Rick Nash in earnest, which was followed by confirming reports this morning by both Sportsnet and TSN insiders. The fact that this is happening should not come as some great shock since Nash’s name has been frequently mentioned in rumors ever since the Jackets got off to a horrific start of the season.
Nash did not do anything to dispel the story by saying “I’m a Blue Jacket as of right now” to the Columbus Dispatch’s Aaron Portzline this morning.
According to ESPN’s tandem of Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun
Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson is not commenting, but I can tell you that from talking to sources on other teams around the league this morning, the sense is that the door has opened on Nash’s availability. Understand that as late as this past Friday, two NHL GMs I spoke with said they had inquired about Nash and were given a firm no. So this is something that has shifted quickly over the past few days.
The offers will begin to pour into Howson over the next thirteen days, but whether he can get a worthwhile deal consummated will be up to 27 year old Nash, who controls his fate because of the no movement clause in his contract, which runs through the 2017-18 season.
Both writers indicate that the New York Rangers have interest and young pieces like Brandon Dubinsky and former first rounder Chris Kreider of Boston College who might be attractive to Columbus, as well as Philadelphia, who have the likes of Sean Couturier, Brayden Schenn and James Van Riemsdyk already proving that they have the ability to be effective NHL players.
Of course, when it comes to Brampton, ON native, the rumors of the Maple Leafs having interest are never far away, but there has been lingering questions of whether Nash wants to play in hockey mad Toronto. He had the opportunity to be an unrestricted free agent a few years ago, which would have drawn a big money offer from GM Brian Burke, but instead he re-upped with Columbus.
In the end, it might not be the best offer that snags Nash, it will be where he wants to spend the majority of his career and where he has the best chance to achieve the success that he never was able to attain with the Blue Jackets.
Would you be willing to expend three young prospects or established pros like Nazem Kadri, Joe Colborne, Luke Schenn, Jake Gardiner, Matt Frattin or Cody Franson to bring a superstar to the Blue and White??
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The Leafs have placed defenseman Carl Gunnarsson on IR with an ankle injury from yesterday's collision in practice with forward Jay Rosehill. Gunnarsson will be on the injured list for a minimum of seven days and with the club embarking on a three gams in five night swing through Western Canada starting tonight in Calgary, they have recalled Keith Aulie to take his spot on the roster.
It is not clear whether Aulie or veteran Mike Komisarek, who has been a healthy scratch for the last six games, will play tonight against the Flames. Since Gunnarsson has mostly been paired with Dion Phaneuf and Aulie has played with the Leafs captain in the past, it is very possible that the youngster will get the nod.
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