A press conference was the ONLY option.

Now to those people that say that Howson is asking too much – You’re right! The thing is, Howson would be (even more of) a dolt if he caved to the Hurricanes (or anyones) complaints that the asking price is too high. He can drag this out for as long as he wants. Nash’s stock isnt going drastically down, especially to gms that already don’t view him as a top 5-10 talent.

“Had Howson kept his mouth shut Nash’s teammates may never have known what the nature of the situation is.”

So we agree that Nash went behind his team mates back to request a trade? During the season? Is that your idea of a captain and consummate professional?

My opinion, admittedly from afar, is that if Nash really wants to move on, he needs to expand the number of teams he’d be willing to play for. He’s already turned down a trade to Ottawa. So what is Howson supposed to do? Trade his best player for assets that are worth less in return? Especially when Nash made a seven year commitment to the organization?

Hopefully this works out for the fans and the organization, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Nash is suited up in Columbus when the year starts.

How so? He has every right to request a trade. He went about it in the best way possible, in private rather than through the media. Nash has been a consumate professional throughout this whoel thing and Howson has been anything but. Had Howson kept his mouth shut Nash’s teammates may never have known what the nature of the situation is.

Yes, because of the contract Howson has every right to keep Nash in Columbus. But if he does so after the way he has handled this situation he will look like an even bigger clown than he already is and will be guaranteeing himself that GM of any NHL club will not be his future occupation (if he hasn’t already done that).

As someone who played hockey growing up, I’d say that’s pretty good, especially when you consider most of his career was played during a six-team era. How many current NHLers would never have made the NHL in a six-team era?

As a commentator, I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But I do like the fact he says what he thinks, completely free of any politically-correct filters. My biggest problem with Cherry is the suits he wears. Dress a little less like a clown, Don.

Now how can anyone say that Nash has all the leverage? He has six years remaining on a seven year contract to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets. If Howson does not trade him, Nash has two options: Play for the Jackets, or quit for six years. So who has the all the leverage?

Rick Nash had better expand the number of teams he’s willing to play for, or he’ll be wearing a Blue Jacket uniform at the start of the season. (minus the “C”).

We may be stuck with Timmy. Krejci I can part with.

And Howson certainly did not throw Nash under the bus. This “Captain” went to the GM asking for a trade before the trade deadline. By doing so, it was Nash who threw the organization and his teamates under the bus.

Cherry has helped with innovations or promotion that has protected many young kids with that “Stop” program on their backs. He has been saying for years that with the new rules and sizes of players that the gear, especially shoulder pads should change to protect each other in todays NHL.

You may have some sorta hate for the guy who has forgotten more about the sport than you, and has a much deeper understanding of it that you will never in your lifetime come close to achieving. But to blurt out complete non facts upon reading his name is what we call “Being a hater”

Pure speculation, but a workable theory nonetheless.

By no means am I advocating his behavior but its not unheard of.

For you to say that playing in NYC is exactly like playing in a Canadian market is ridiculous. Yes NYC’s a giant market with huge pressure to win, but when it comes to hockey thats about all there is that makes is similiar to a Canadian market. The spotlight goes so far beyond the rink, the sports fans, and the sports writers in every single Canadian market as to be beyond overwhelming.

A 3rd line winger can barely walk around the average Canadian NHL city without being recognized / grilled as to why he coughed the puck up on his 3rd shift 3 nights ago that allowed 3 shots that didn’t go in but bumped up the teams GAA.

A player like Nash doesnt make a hockey decision when he chooses to playor not play in Canada …he makes a total quality of life / legacy decision.

I’m not downplaying the commitment of a US hockey fan just because they live south of the border … I’m just saying the overall Canadian hockey culture is so obsessive that unless you’ve experienced it you probably don’t fully comprehend it.

Second, its clear from the list of teams Nash has given that he just wants to go to a contender. I know this is hard to understand for Candians… but all your teams suck right now. Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Calgary all missed the playoffs last season and Ottawa bearly crawled into the playoffs, and lost in the first round. There is no reason to expect any of those teams to be a contender next year. The only Canadian team thats good is Vancouver, but there are good reasons for Nash not to go there. Not only do they not have a need for a top line winger, but Vancouver is like a soap opera. Who wants to go to the city of drama?

This is just another case of a Canadian thinking its better to play for a Canadian team, then it is to play for a contender. Nash has been stuck with a losing team his whole career, and he wants the hell out… so the last thing he wants to do is go to another loser team, which means he sure as hell doesn’t want to go to Canada. Its about winning for Nash now, not about the spotlight.

Of course Nash has the leverage, but limiting the teams to the point of making a deal almost impossible, all the while claiming “he wants whats best for the team” rings pretty weak.

Nothing in life is 100% percent everything.

(except habsmans blinding hatred of Boston … that’s pretty 100%)

They view trading Nash as a horrible thing, and they expect other teams to pay big to pry him out of their hands. Instead, they should view it as an opprotunity to pick up a couple pieces to help rebuild, dump a laughably large contracts thats attached to an unhappy player, and start over. They should see what all the teams are offering, and take the offer that would help their rebuild the most andb e done with it.

The longer this drags on with Howson trying to scam teams with his joke demands, the less Columbus will get in the end.