Certainly, they’d be asking for players already playing or projected at a top 6 forward or top 4 D level, not necessarily a surprise/project who could get there. They don’t want players who will look better on their team, they want to become the team that has good players on their 3rd line because that’s all the room they have for them.

They can do that because Nash is a guy who creates offence for himself, he’s been doing it all these years without bonafide top line players. He is one of the top power forwards around, and would be an asset, albeit an expensive one, to help any team’s offence. He’s never had a top line playmaker, for instance Datsyuk as you mention, and could easily be a 90+ point guy on the right line.

Admittedly, I don’t know a lot about Pearce, but with him being older yet still not having played an NHL game yet (McCollum has at least one callup, albeit a bad one) I’d put him behind McCollum. It depends on how much value, if any, Columbus assigns to them though since they clearly want a goalie in a deal they make either now or in the summer.

@bigtganks: I don’t see MG doing both either, just that we certainly have assets to make a deal if it really came to it.

Remember, Nash isn’t a 2 way guy, he’s not a do it yourself scorer, and he’ll have to buy into a puck control system (something he isn’t used to). I would akin him to Franzen. A big guy that occasionally can be shifty and has a great shot. The difference between him and Franzen is the systems and playing time. Guys can be severely over rated when talking about trades. I would think a playmaker like Datsyuk would make Nash a huge threat even with less ice time and more defensive responsibility.

Don’t make the trade. We don’t need anymore 1980′s hockey teams. Plus, future salary cap issues. Don’t screw with the TEAM CHEMISTRY. NYR team is for real. There the best team in the league. Why would you screw that up. PLEASE!

Kindl is an option for a roster player, but think more like Hudler or maybe Eaves. Then add the prospect(s) and change Detroit’s 2nd (since it’s almost a 3rd) to a 1st instead. If they had a top goalie prospect they could trade (since they aren’t moving Howard) then they wouldn’t have to give up so much else to bring in someone of Nash’s calibre.

You think because it’s sunny and a weak Panther team has a weak division Nash would want to go to Florida?

Philly could try but they need defence more and won’t be sending a goalie out unless they decide they want Mason instead of Bryz.

Boston isn’t moving Rask since Thomas is closer and closer to retirement (or a trade out) every day, so no go there.

Detroit has the space and would love to get him, but they typically don’t give up assets in trades of this magnitude, and don’t have an NHL ready goalie Columbus would want.

How’s this for a dark horse: Buffalo. They have players they don’t mind moving, a good young goalie, and a team that has the pieces to contend if they can gel. They could even move Miller (assuming he’d waive his NTC, not as likely though) and take Mason back to split duties with Enroth while he continues to develop into a legit starter. They have better draft picks, forward and defence available, it’s just whether or not Columbus sees them as valuable enough to consider moving Nash.

How about Nash, Aaron Johnson and Sanford for Boyes, Sekera, Enroth and a high pick?

They are 21st in GF and 14th in GA. With Nash, they are a legit contender. No other team has the assets, cap space, and goalie prospect to swing this deal AND as legit a shot at contending.

Three good young players and a second is a good negotiating starting point. Might need to throw in another tweener like Emmerton.