Fallout from Rick Nash providing a list of teams he’d accept a trade too …
Dan Rosen: The top three teams that would be an ideal fit for Rick Nash: Dallas Stars, Nashville Predators, and San Jose Sharks. If wanting four teams, the St. Louis Blues.
Tom Timmermann: “Here’s a problem for Blues: almost every team in Central will be looking to add talent, and many teams are going for the same guys.”
Adam Vingan: Do believe that Nash “does check off a lot of boxes for what the Predators may be looking for” leading up to the trade deadline.
Jim Matheson: Wonder if Nash has the Maple Leafs on his list. He was born in Ontario.
Jim Matheson: The Rangers definitely need to build up their prospect pool. Can see them trying to get a first-round pick or two second-round picks in any deal.
TSN: Dave Poulin on which teams could use Rick Nash and which teams he might have on his list. The Toronto Maple Leafs should be a team on his list – he knows the city and they are an up and coming team.
Some other teams that might be interested in Nash
St. Louis Blues – they have the assets, two young centers that might interest the Rangers. The Blues lost Robby Fabbri earlier in the year and Nash could help replace some of the lost offense.
Nashville Predators – GM David Poile made it clear that they will be all in this year.
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on the NHL Network on what the Rangers could be looking to get in return for Nash.
“Well, I think there’s a couple of things in play here,” began hockey Insider Elliotte Friedman during a Monday segment on NHL Network. “No. 1 is the Rangers are willing to take back money, so that is always going to make it a little bit easier – keep money on his contract. So that always makes a player a little bit more valuable.
“There’s another player right now, Evander Kane, who is similar to Nash. He’s a rental. The Buffalo Sabres are willing to move him, but the price has been pretty high – three pieces including a high draft pick, and a decent prospect. So that’s probably the idea of what the Rangers are looking for. So two or three pieces – draft pick, high prospect, and if they’re keeping salary they’ll be aiming a little bit higher.”
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: Elliotte Friedman on SiriusXM NHL Network radio after the report that Nash gave his trade list to the Rangers.
“But I think the biggest question is – Rick Nash has a place in New York. The Rangers like him. Obviously, as he said, his son likes being in New York. I think the biggest question is going to be does he go back next season. And I wouldn’t be surprised if a guy like Grabner gets traded and the same thing happens there.”
Friedman on which teams could be interested in trading for Nash. Dallas Stars head coach Ken Hitchcock loves Nash.
“Yes he does,” agreed Friedman. “I think Nashville will be in it. I think St. Louis will be in it. It all comes down to where he’s willing to go, right. I think San Jose… I guarantee if Joe Thornton is coming back – Rick Nash and Joe Thornton are tight. I think those are two guys that would love to play with each other. So I think there’s a lot of options there.
“Normally I would put Calgary there, but Calgary doesn’t have a high pick this year and so I would think they’re probably not an option this time, but normally they’re a team I would kind of put in the conversation.
“So I would leave it to St. Louis. I would leave it to Nashville. I mean L.A.. I think there’s going to be a lot of interest in Rick Nash. But I think Nashville is a team that’s really looking at things and it actually makes a lot of sense to me.