New York Rangers Have Held Preliminary Discussions For Rick Nash

Brooks says that Dubi, Kreider, and a 1st is NOT ENOUGH for Columbus to give up Nash. He also calls the deal a longshot.

The Post had been told the opening asking price for the 6-4, 220-pounder who has spent his entire career with the Blue Jackets following his first overall selection in the 2002 Entry Draft is in excess of the package speculated to be Brandon Dubinsky, Boston College can’t-miss prospect Chris Kreider, and a first-round draft choice.

lol I got Nash in NHL 12 for Anisimov and draft picks…

On a more serious note, I don’t want to trade Duby. As it said in the post, he is a critical part of this team’s identity, and has also played an important role in CREATING it.

Also, Kreider continues to impress, anybody watch the Beanpot last night? My Terriers lost again, but seeing Kreider score made it a little easier to bear

Instead, I will offer a prospect package:
Forwards Wojtek Wolski, Mats Zuccarello, and Ryan Bourque, defensemen Jeff Woywitka and Brendan Bell, and goalie Chad Johnson.

Rangers receive Vinny Prospal as well (I miss the guy, just saying)

Wolski needs a place like Columbus to get his game back. Columbus has a lot of time on their hands and they can help him get his development back. Zuccarello can shine at the NHL level with this team of young talent. Bourque I cannot see being a Ranger. Woywitka has done well with us, and I think he can help the Blue Jackets somewhat defensively. Bell has the potential to compete at the NHL level. Johnson can get get NHL time here.

This deal is dumb, I know. But this is what I will offer. That is it! If they don’t like it, I am walking away from negotiating.

Before we even look into what is worth giving up to acquire Nash, there is one larger issue.
Rick Nash is a first line right winger. The Rangers already have their first two RW positions filled by Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik (easily the most essential forwards on the team).
You wouldn’t move Nash to left, and Gabby and Cally are ingrained on the right side. He just isn’t the right piece for this team even if he is the best player on the trade market.
We need a scoring LW who reliably puts up points on the powerplay.
Bobby Ryan or Ray Whitney are the only ones who fit the bill.
I wouldn’t give up much for Whitney due to his age, only guys who don’t fit our system (Wolski, MZA, etc)
Ryan would be worth one solid roster player (AA or Dubie), and mid-level prospect or high pick. No more than that.

I’m not so sure I would invest in Rick Nash for six years.I think we can acquire a scoring foward for alot less without giving up Duby or Kreider. Maybe you take another look at this deal during the off season,depending how the rest of the year pans out. It just seems evertime the Rangers have made these type of moves in the past,they never really payoff the way you expect,and it becomes another huge diasappointment. I’m happy with the way the team is now.Lets ride this out and see how far it can get us, because it seems every team that we’ll face in the playoffs have some problems and are looking more and more quite beatable.

I know you have talked about Nash vs. Carter as far as bang for the buck.. putting up similar numbers… but as far as play style, does Carter slot in next B Rich and Cally as well as Nash does, hypothetically? Are Carter and Nash both puck carriers?

and we do not want to give them our important prospects: Kreider, Erixon.

No way this deal is happening. just no way.

As I said above, keep in mind that if you add any top 6 forward via trade or this summer – Carter, Nash, Parise – Dubinsky is slotted for the third line for the rest of his career. If Kreider pushes AA off the first line next season, Dubi is even deeper into the 3rd.

So keep that in mind before throwing up arms about trading Dubi now or this summer for cap space (for Parise)… even with heart and soul, he is only doing so much from the 3rd line.

Stay the course Glen. stay the course….

NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This summer we’ll have to deal with Wolski (Assuming he’s a walk-off), Del Zotto, and Stralman as RFA’s (and maybe contracts to Prust, Mitchell, and Biron as UFA’s). No big deal. Following year its Anisimov, Stepan, Hagelin, McDonagh, and Sauer. I put them in as baseline RFA qualifying values, and this is what I got. If Cap stays the same (assuming no lockout rollback) :

FORWARDS
Marian Gaborik ($7.500m) / Brad Richards ($6.666m) / Ryan Callahan ($4.275m)
Michael Rupp ($1.500m) / Brian Boyle ($1.700m) / Brandon Dubinsky ($4.200m)
J.T. Miller ($1.275m) / Christian Thomas ($1.000m) / Chris Krieder ($1.275m)
Derek Stepan ($0.918m) / Carl Hagelin ($0.918m) / Artem Anisimov ($1.875m)

DEFENSEMEN
Marc Staal ($3.975m) / Daniel Girardi ($3.325m)
Mike Sauer ($1.250m) / Ryan McDonagh ($1.300m)
Tim Erixon ($1.750m) / Anton Stralman ($0.945m)
Michael Del Zotto ($1.087m)

GOALTENDERS
Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875m) / Martin Biron ($1.000m)

SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $56,278,334; BONUSES: $1,475,000
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $8,021,666

Now, I think we can all assume all of the RFA’s will get something more than qualifying offers, I just don’t see any big names coming in (I did my cap and figured about ~$100,000 in cap space after RFA raises)

Let it ride. Wouldn’t u guys rather have bobby Ryan anyway? Ride it out and trade for Ryan in the off season if we suffer an early exit.
And just because u have big names don’t equal playoff goals

But hey you never no. No matter what you all think of him, he is still just a prospect, and Nash is another elite player. People didnt want BR and look at us now. The talent this team has told me early on in the season we should be one of the best teams in the leauge. We Nash on this team we would be unstoppable. And I would see no reason for that to just end after this season. With Nash we could still be a serious cup contender for years to come…

Either Dubi or his bad agent pushed mgmt into paying more for him than what Sather believed he was worth. The team chemistry was not important enough to him when he held out in training camp/pre-season. Torts publically did not appreciate him holding out either. I bet sather told Dubi you better deliver on your salary and now he feels burned. I would not be suprised one bit if they use him and a couple other pieces to upgrade from Dubi. Thats what it comes down to..

First reply/post :)

I’m torn over trading Dubinsky. I’ve watched the Rangers for almost 40 years, and he’s the streakiest player I’ve ever watched. He’ll give you 10 point in 5 games, then 2 points over 15. It’s maddening! BUT… he does work hard in the corners, hits, and will drop the gloves if need be. Also, his defensive play is pretty good. Those qualities personify what the Rangers identity currently is.

To MZA/Erixon, I could let them go without losing any sleep over it. McIlrath I’d like to keep, but he has to start showing me sometihng special.

As to Kreider, right now he’s a “may be awesome”. I don’t care what scouts says, I don’t care what he’s done in college. Plenty of players have hit the NHL with big up-side only to tank, and plenty have come from obscurity to be great. Established talent > may be awesome.

I definitely don’t like Nash’s contract. That’s about all I have to say on that.

If I go with my gut, in the end I think I say stand. We’re the #1 team in the East, 9 points up, the powerplay is showing signs of life, and we’re playing great team defense (goaltending included). Don’t mess with what ain’t broken.

Thanks,