Comments on: Here’s what the Rangers reportedly offered for Rick Nash

By: swantsays

swantsays — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:55:38 +0000

Does Columbus expect to get a better player than Nash?

Who would do that?

If the willingness to trade Nash indicates that the club is in “rebuilding” mode,
then a package of young players plus Dubinsky is what they SHOULD be looking for.

By the way, Dubi led the Rangers in scoring last year didn’t he? He is a quality player.

The reason the Rangers looked at Nash, in my opinion, is that they recognize that they lack great scorers, particularly on left wing.

This team has shown that in can sprint out of the gate well enough, but when the other teams pick up their game, do the Rangers have the talent to raise it another notch?

Or, will it be another fade down the stretch, and an embarrassing collapse in the playoffs?

They have been shut out three times in the last two weeks. Even in the wins, they have not shown great
offensive skills, just average. That is the system they play. They rely on defense and counterpunching when other teams make a mistake. When the playoffs start, they will have less mistakes to take advantage of, and then they will have to rely on superior talent to move on.

Sather knows this. Thats why he went after Nash. They don’t need another cog to fit into the system, they need a player that can transcend the system like Messier, Esposito, Gretzky, Trottier.

One last thing- you can’t translate one player’s numbers into Ranger production so easily. On a team
that emphasizes defense, one would think his numbers might just as well go down as up. The issue is, in big games, when the “system” can’t produce, is he the type of player to get you the “big one”?

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:44:51 +0000

But I do think they can get a better player than Dubinsky and a higher pick from someone.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:41:32 +0000

I’m obviously biased but I think the Leafs could offer something comparable, although they might be better off making a run at Parise.

By: icelovinbrotha215

icelovinbrotha215 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:25:25 +0000

Ya think? They should expect that (CBJ that is). No team is going give a player close to Slick Stick Rick’s talent. Especially the teams that Nash will waive his NMC for (all contending teams). Like I said, I think CBJ will be hardpressed to find a better offer come draft time. I could be wrong though ha.

By: afc22

afc22 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:47:32 +0000

I dont think it equates to a 100 point scorer…typically a guy like Nash now has to share the ice time a bit more and think about other elements of his game like defense because winning is more important than single handedly trying to but fans in the seats.

I can understand Howson not pulling the trigger just because he has no one to market to his fans. But if he was the GM of Vancouver’s team and got this offer for Nash he’d probably get hit for not taking it. That was a good collection of talent he declined, which a good organization and coach can patiently develop into quality NHL material.

CBJ needed a headline player in return, but considering his cap hit this is probably good for the Rangers and Columbus

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:18:49 +0000

Why would a team trade it’s only star for an above average player and a bunch of unproven prospects? If Howson had taken the deal and all those prospects are busts he would look a lot stupider than he does by not taking this. Luckily he compensated for taking the less stupid option by throwing his franchise player under the bus.

By: 1943mrmojorisin1971

1943mrmojorisin1971 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:16:28 +0000

Seriously? I’m surprised Sather didn’t throw in a bag of pucks. This is a useless offer as far as CBJ is concerned. Dubinsky is a third line player, the rest of the bunch are unproven, and that pick is basically a second rounder. They can and probably will do better.

By: sabatimus

sabatimus — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:08:51 +0000

The Rangers almost gave up one nut for him, and the GM didn’t take it. Factor in that Nash wants out of his organization absurdly bad, and this makes for utter stupidity on the Jackets part.

By: sabatimus

sabatimus — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 01:05:25 +0000

Foolish for the Jackets not to take this. Utterly foolish.

By: Tristan

Tristan — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:56:22 +0000

“Equals 100 pts + with a contender”
Does it, though? It’s related to what we’re realizing in Vancouver – I think Nash bears some similarity to Kesler in terms of the effect of linemates on his production. “Kesler got 41 goals with a rotating cast of plugs on his wings – imagine what he’d do with tailor-made linemates!” Not so much. And sure, Nash has played on a perennially bad team, but that can almost have its upsides for a scorer. I can’t think of any team in the West that teams “get up” less to play against. A game against CBJ is something other teams have to suffer through, and I’ve seem Vancouver and others play some shockingly shoddy defence them because they just can’t make themselves care.
“

By: sbs0311

sbs0311 — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:43:33 +0000

Anyone who thinks the Blue Jackets will do better is out of touch. This guy isn’t Malkin. Heck, as an impact offensive player, his career production shows he isn’t Gaborik either.

That deal was a top six forward (Dubinsky), a potential top 6 forward in Miller who can play C, another potential top 6 forward in Thomas, a surefire top 4 and likely top 2 defenseman in Erixon, AND a pick.

Many who follow the Rangers would prefer to keep Erixon to Kreider! Erixon is THAT good. Columbus isn’t doing better. For the sake of the NHL, I’d rather see them contracted and Nash sent to Winnipeg to rejuvenate a deserving Canadian franchise rather than have him toil in that pathetic excuse for a hockey town.

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:25:11 +0000

I expect that Nash will fetch a package similar to what Chris Pronger did at the draft a few years ago. A quality position player, a blue chip prospect, and two firsts and a third. Outing Nash was stupid, but, at the end of the day, there will be a lot of competition for Nash’s talents. The fact that he seems to have burned his bridges cuts both ways. If he comes to be perceived as a problem child, many teams may shy away from him and he may wind up stuck in Columbus. He doesn’t want to be seen as another Heatley or Lindros. Character counts in this business.

By: stakex

stakex — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:13:57 +0000

Mark my words… this deal would have been far better then anything Columbus will get this summer. Nash was the only (semi) top player up for grabs at the trade deadline. This summer, that well might not be the case and the market could very well be more compedative. Should that happen, Columbus simply will not get as much for an over paid, under achieving player coming off his worst season in several years.

By: stakex

stakex — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:09:01 +0000

You might be right blainelacher, but GMs deal in fact. Its a fact Rick Nash has only ever had one really good year, and another in which he did score 40 goals. Are his numbers likely to rise on a better team? Yes… but there is no promis of that, and its hard to give away a lot on a “maybe”.

By: rpiotr01

rpiotr01 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:41:47 +0000

According to Brooks’ article, this is what Howson was looking for in return:

“… the package in return would have to include either Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto plus either Derek Stepan or Carl Hagelin, plus Boston College winger Chris Kreider and Brandon Dubinsky…”

So the worst package he was willing to accept was Del Zotto, Hagelin, Kreider and Dubinsky. Why even bother? Who in the league is worth that package? Malkin? Dats 2-3 years ago? All in return for a 30 goal scorer and the privilege of paying said 30 goal scorer $8 million a year for the next 5 years?

I guess it’s his fault for signing the dotted line, but I kinda feel bad for Rick Nash.

By: blainelacher

blainelacher — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:31:43 +0000

While I agree with your larger point, “best year ever” of 40/39 is very impressive considering a) it was done in Columbus and b) without a stud center. 40/39 prob. Equals 100 pts + with a contender. 100+ is hard to do nowadays.

By: Tristan

Tristan — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:58:32 +0000

Rick Nash’s best year ever: ’08-’09, 78 GP, 40 G, 39 A, 79 P. Seven point eight million dollar cap hit. I like Rick Nash. He’s really good. He scores some very pretty goals. But I don’t think he’ll ever be a more valuable player to a team overall than he is/has been to CBJ. His role as face of the franchise and the highlight-reel nature of many of his plays are huge components to his worth there, and have caused him to become, frankly, pretty overrated. He’s not worth what you/Howson thinks he is, and whatever team pays that price will be worse off for it.

By: jkay1818

jkay1818 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:37:30 +0000

Who is the source for this deal? That’s a pretty hefty deal considering JT Miller was one of the untouchables listed along with Kreider, mcdonagh and MDZ. How is Howson going to do better than that. Miller is going to be a good two way playmaking center, a first round pick thrown in is always a luxury to have, erixon at 21 is going to be a good one, christian thomas although small has serious sniper capabilities, hes a goal scorer, hes small, but so was his father and he was a good one as well. Dubinsky is a good two way player that plays hard every night. Yes, a lot of unknowns in the trade, but we’re talking about a team that is going nowhere in a hurry with Nash not even wanting to be there. I’d love to see how howson deals with this mess in the offseason, his luck he won’t even be there and some sucker will have to sort all this out and deal nash for a less superior package.
I honestly find that hard to believe that the NYR offered that package. Fine by me, the Rangers are a very young team and they have tons and tons of top prospects. Let them grow with the franchise. Miller, Kreider, Thomas, Mcilrath and co will be a nice compliment to their young crop of guys.

By: icelovinbrotha215

icelovinbrotha215 — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:11:56 +0000

I’d be surprised if CBJ finds a better deal from the teams Nash wants to go to.

By: gaborik104life

gaborik104life — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:09:08 +0000

First of all is the relationship with Nash and Columbus is now reaching the level of toxic. Nash is miserable there and Darren Dreger tweeted that nash is emotionally drained in Columbus. Secondly is that the list is going to become smaller and the ball then shifts in the teams listed court. So thank you Howson for not accepting this deal just wait until he holds out and ends up on our team anyway ala Richards and Joe Nieuwendyk even though he is still signed. Also with all the UFA’s this year we might not even need Nash so we’ll let these prospects grow into great players and be on opposite ends of the standings for a couple of years. Eventually Columbus will be good if they aren’t gutted from top to bottom.

By: lostpuppysyndrome

lostpuppysyndrome — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:03:27 +0000

The summer media trade/signing mongering is gonna be stupid this year.

By: govtminion

govtminion — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:57:55 +0000

I’d say both sides made the right call on this not happening. Columbus, as said above, wouldn’t have received the ‘immediate impact’ guys that could turn things around, and there’s no guarantee they can draft or develop anyone decent anyway (other than Nash). And is Nash worth giving all of that away if you’re the Rangers? Really?

Just as well this ended for both sides.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 21:53:59 +0000

No wonder the Jackets passed on this. If that’s the most “mammoth” offer they could come up with (as described by others reporting on the efforts) then the Rangers were never really interested in Nash. Other fans seemingly do not realize that getting Rick Nash requires a massive massive return.