Comments on: Rick Nash update: “NHL-ready forwards” are big part of asking price

By: bcisleman

bcisleman — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:35:56 +0000

Howson is NOT over a barrel. He has Nash under contract until 2018 and is under no obligation to move him. The few GMs on Nash’s list are dismissing Howson’s list as a negotiating tactic. They hope to pressure him into taking a bunch of spare parts for one of the NHL’s premier forwards. At the end of the day, Nash is the one who wants to be traded and the other teams need offense. Howson taking less than fair value for Nash would be the final straw for CBJ fans and likely for CBJ management. He knows he has to deliver with this move and isn’t going to be pressured into taking less than fair value.

I suspect that Howson will accept a package centered around a top young forward or forward prospect like Kreider or Bennett.

Also, I don’t believe that Howson was referring to Wiz or Johnson. He was referring to CBJ’s fine young D prospects like Nikitin, Moore and Murray among others.

By: bluessince1991

bluessince1991 — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 01:34:47 +0000

I don’t know if Nash would agree to it or if Columbus would trade in the division, but I’m surprised the Blues haven’t come up in the discussion yet. They have a stockpile of young forwards at the NHL level already with some good prospects in the minors. They have a new owner with decent cap room to make a splash in his first full year of ownership. Every year I read that they’re in on a big name free agent, a few years ago it was Kovalchuk or they’re thought to be in on trades like Carter last year. It’s time for them to get that sniper type winger that can score and Nash fits the bill pretty well. St Louis is poised to be a contender and most guys have always said how much they liked playing in St Louis so I wouldn’t think he would be too opposed to landing in the StL.

By: mojosmagic

mojosmagic — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 19:23:59 +0000

Steve Nash has never been happy.

By: guinsrule

guinsrule — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 18:36:54 +0000

Seeing what GM Scott Howson believes Rick Nash’s trade value is, I have no choice but to believe Columbus is grossly underpaying Nash.

By: babar61

babar61 — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:28:37 +0000

Howson is a complete moron. I now believe nash isn’t going to be traded this off-season. Maybe at next years trade deadline or If a gm with more than half a brain replaces him. Every time I read anything howson says I truly feel bad for blue jacket fans

By: bleed4philly

bleed4philly — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:28:16 +0000

Why don’t they just trade him for prospects and picks, then they just sign Semin? He’s NHL ready and he won’t be anywhere near nash’s currently salary.

By: jnealsmanmeat

jnealsmanmeat — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:43:44 +0000

Future SCA member?

By: btrenary87

btrenary87 — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:39:49 +0000

overrated has only scored 70 or more pts 2 times in the nhl. They’re asking waaaay to much for him

By: jacketsfan7

jacketsfan7 — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 16:25:37 +0000

Ok honestly? Come on howson if you offer too much it’s gonna backfire and no one is gonna wanna trade with you and get Nash , why don’t you just get maybe a guy like Jonathan Bernier and a 3rd round pick and call it “even”

By: kg112686

kg112686 — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:38:42 +0000

Yes they would pay him like a 40 goal scorer for a few reasons. A.) he is still only 28 years old (just turned 28) and B.) any elite players’ stats are going to suffer playing for Columbus and teams know that. In 2008-2009 (40 goal season) Columbus was a playoff team and Nash actually had some help around him. Since then they have been consistently one of the worst (if not the worst) offensive team in the league. Put Nash on a line with a Datsyuk or a Crosby or a Thornton (or any of the top 15 centers) and I guarantee he will be among the league leaders in goals year in and year out.

By: danphipps01

danphipps01 — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:20:00 +0000

Man, this illustrates just how stunningly naive Howson really is. He’s content to run with Sieve Mason and a guy who was so bad he couldn’t even wrestle the starting position out of Ilya freaking Bryzgalov? Ridiculous.

By: steelturf76

steelturf76 — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:05:12 +0000

I haven’t had the opportunity to personally watch Rick Nash much over the past few years so I’m not trying to hate or bash the Guy, but I think the asking price is ridiculous, any player can look great in a bad team because the talent surrounding him is that bad making him look that good. living in Pittsburgh I have seen this first hand with the Pirates, teams want our “best” players and when they do get the player that individual looks mediocre at best because the talent that he is now surrounded by is that much better than what he was surrounded by before being traded.

By: stakex

stakex — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 15:01:11 +0000

Howson can act like hes going to stand firm on his demands all he wants, but hes the one over a barrel. He has a very unhappy player thats wants off the team, has seen a dramatic drop in production, and who cost a ton of cap space. He has no choice but to trade him before the start of the season. There is no realistic option for keeping Nash in Columbus. Once all the GMs interested in Nash finish laughing at these still laughable demands and the season is about to start…. he’ll panic and take the first decent offer he gets.

Side Note: Nash may have scored 40 goals in the past, but hes averaged just 31 goals (64 points) over the last three seasons. So Howson can say Nash is a potential 40 goal / 80 point player all he wants… but the reality of it is he hasn’t been for a few years now. If a team was going to give him a new contract right now, do you think they would pay him like he was a 40 goal scorer? Of course not… so why should they trade for him like he is?