Rick Nash Trade: Tim Erixon's Past Could Be Problematic For Columbus Blue Jackets

When the Columbus Blue Jackets traded disgruntled captain Rick Nash to the New York Rangers on Monday, the most promising piece the team received in return was 21-year old defenseman Tim Erixon.

Drafted with the No. 23 overall selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Erixon is considered a high-end prospect with the potential to be a top-four puck moving defenseman at the NHL level. Combine that with his 6-foot-3, 205 pound frame, the left-handed shooter could be a valuable piece on a Blue Jackets team that has suddenly developed an impressive backend.

However, with all the positives, Erixon carries a huge negative in the form of attitude problems that may create issues in Columbus. Erixon ended up with the Rangers because he refused to sign with the Calgary Flames after being drafted by the team.

Considering the bleak future on the near horizon, some have speculated that he may not be pleased playing in Columbus.

Via The Cannon:

I have a very hard time accepting Erixon as a piece of the deal. His pouting in Calgary gives me serious pause when it comes to how loyal he'll be to the Jackets.

With the Jeff carter situation fresh in every one's mind and now the Nash trade, the last thing any one in Columbus wants to deal with is another talented player forcing his way out of being a Blue Jacket.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Rick Nash Trade: Columbus Blue Jackets 'Lose', According To SB Nation

On Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets finally pulled the trigger and put an end to the five-month long saga that had become the Rick Nash situation, in which the club's greatest player in franchise history requested a trade.

After several balked proposals reportedly coming from the New York Rangers, Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson finally agreed to a deal with the team that brought forwards Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, 21-year old defenseman Tim Erixon and a 2013 first-round draft selection to Columbus.

Needless to say the reaction to the deal was underwhelming to say the least, especially considering the return Howson had been requesting, compared to the return he got.

Here is what SB Nation contributor, Bruce Ciskie had to say:

Howson had a duty in this process, and that was to get what he was looking for. Numerous reports had him seeking an NHL player, a prospect, and a first-round pick. Obviously, he wasn't going to get Jeff Skinner or something. But to go from asking San Jose for Logan Couture to getting what he got has to be quite the buzzkill in the Columbus front office, even if no one will publicly admit it. [...] It's tough to sell this as a good deal for Columbus. It just is. However, it beats no deal at all.

To read the full report, click here.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Rick Nash Trade Approved By League, Now Official

On Monday afternoon, the proposed deal between the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets centered around disgruntled captain Rick Nash was formally reviewed and approved by the NHL making the deal official, according to several outlets.

The final deal will see the Blue Jackets sending Nash, minor-league defenseman Steve Delisle and a conditional third-round draft pick (which goes back to Columbus if the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final) in exchange for forwards Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, 21-year old defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round selection in the 2013 NHL Draft.

With mixed reviews about the deal coming out from every major outlet, here is what SB Nation's Blue Jackets blog, The Cannon, had to say about the return:

At first I was underwhelmed, but the more I think about it, the more I like the deal, given the circumstances. I feel for Howson, he was in a terrible position from the get-go, and did well to add players that can help the team win now, and assets to help the team in the future. It remains to be seen what kind of impact a player who recently held-out, a player who demanded a trade from the team that drafted him, a young Russian and a late first rounder will have, but if nothing else, it feels good to have the Rick Nash saga come to a close.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Rick Nash Trade: Blue Jackets Reportedly Receive Brandon Dubinsky, Two Others In Deal

The Rick Nash trade saga is just about over, by most accounts. Darren Dreger broke the news that the Columbus Blue Jackets were shipping off Nash to the New York Rangers, who have been in this since the beginning, with multiple players being involved in the trade. New York was regarded as one of the few teams with enough firepower to make a trade happen since before the trade deadline a season ago.

So how did they do, and how much firepower did the Blue Jackets acquire? As it happens, the players involved appear to be a little underwhelming at face value. Dreger is the man of the hour again, with a Tweet on the players involved:

Dubinsky, Anisimov, Erixon and a 1st for Rick Nash.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 23, 2012

Again, that's just a bit underwhelming at this point. Brandon Dubinsky is the biggest name there, and he had a terrible year last season, with 10 goals and 24 assists to his credit. That being said, if Dubinsky proves that was a down year and that the player he was two seasons ago is who he'll be going forward, then the trade looks a little bit better. Artem Anisimov had 16 goals and 20 assists in 79 appearances last season and seems to have a lot of potential, but again, it's a far cry from the top-flight forward talent that general manager Scott Howson claimed the team needed to get in return.

Tim Erixon is the other piece in the trade. He hadn't yet cracked the starting lineup from the Rangers, after being traded there from the Calgary Flames. The Flames traded him because he refused to play for them, never a good sign for a young player. There's a sense of entitlement there that had many worried that he'll be a troublemaker with the Blue Jackets, but he's got solid potential either way.

On top of all that, there's a first-round pick, which may as well not even be included for how little those things are supposed to matter in trades involving players of Nash's caliber. It's disappointing to see that the Blue Jackets held out this long and reportedly turned down a huge offer from the Detroit Red Wings, and someone like Chris Kreider isn't even involved in the deal. Not to mention the fact that Aaron Portzline Tweeted that the Blue Jackets also are sending a third-round pick and a minor-league defenseman not named David Savard as part of the deal.

It's hard to imagine these three guys filling in for the production Nash was able to provide, and that's why this is so puzzling. There's a solid chance that the trade market really started to fizzle out near the end and the Blue Jackets had to take an offer that wasn't as good as one they'd had previously. Most teams backed off when they were asking for too much, and combined with the fact that Nash only had a short list of teams he'd be traded to, it's looking like Columbus should have struck a deal much sooner, potentially even last season before the trade deadline.

Lastly, there may still be some details forthcoming, not to mention this whole thing could fall apart at the very end, as Portzline Tweets that the trade call is not yet done. So we'll see where that goes.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

Rick Nash Trade: Blue Jackets Nearing Deal With Rangers, According To Report

It all might finally be over. After months of trying to deal superstar Rick Nash, the Columbus Blue Jackets might be in on a deal with the New York Rangers, though there's essentially no details as of yet and nothing is confirmed. Darren Dreger of TSN posted on Twitter that the trade is in process right now (Monday).

He followed up with a Tweet saying that multiple players are involved in the trade and that contracts are being reviewed at this time. The Rangers have been in on the Nash sweepstakes since the beginning, and have been regarded as one of the teams with the best shot of landing Nash. It was reported that Nash had cleared the Rangers as one team he'd accept a trade to, while the Rangers have a lot of pieces available for trade.

But until now, it was reported that the Rangers, despite pushing hard, hadn't given the Blue Jackets a good enough offer. It's unclear at this point if the Rangers sweetened the deal a bit or if the Blue Jackets realized that deals weren't likely to get done with other clubs (they refused a huge deal from the Detroit Red Wings, asked too much of the San Jose Sharks in Logan Couture, and Nash refused to be traded to the Ottawa Senators).

It was reported back in February that the Rangers had dropped out of the running for Nash. It's certainly possible that the Blue Jackets felt there wasn't going to be a better offer out there and accepted the standing offer from New York, but we won't know if the Rangers sweetened the deal or not until this is all over.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page.

NHL Trade Rumors: Bruins Reportedly Drop Out Of Rick Nash Sweepstakes

There appears to be another casualty in the Rick Nash race. While the Columbus Blue Jackets have spent months trying to unload their star, other teams have been hesitant. Columbus has been asking high prices for Nash, and no team has offered them enough yet except for a giant deal proposed by the Detroit Red Wings, who were refused access in the end because the Jackets didn't want to trade Nash to a division rival.

Now, it looks like another team might be dropping out from Nash's 'approved' list, the Boston Bruins. According to an ESPN article from Wednesday, the asking price was just too much for the Bruins to pull the trigger:

This source also indicated that the Bruins, who are on a list of teams that Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash would approve a trade to, have dropped out of the sweepstakes for Nash. There have been reports that the asking price for Nash from the Bruins was any combination of Krejci, Lucic, Tyler Seguin and prized prospect Dougie Hamilton.

There have been similar problems in trade talks with the San Jose Sharks for Columbus, and it's starting to look like a deal may never get done for Nash at this rate. Come the 2013 season, they may still have their star on the roster despite their best efforts to let him go.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets and their ever-lasting saga to trade Rick Nash, head over to The Cannon. More news and analysis on the NHL as a whole can be found over at SB Nation's NHL hub.

NHL Trade Rumors: Columbus Reportedly Will Not Trade Rick Nash To Red Wings

The Rick Nash trade scenario for the Columbus Blue Jackets has been going nowhere fast for months, with rumors swirling since way back before the NHL Trade Deadline during the season.

Supposedly the list of teams interested in trading for Nash had been narrowed down a while ago, and teams have been throwing out offers. One of the best has reportedly come in from the Detroit Red Wings, but according to Puck Daddy the Blue Jackets were anything but interested despite it being 'a hell of an offer':

Both Ansur Khan of MLive.com and Chuck Pleiness of the Macomb Daily heard from a source that the Red Wings made "a hell of an offer" for Nash. Columbus GM Scott Howson had previously indicated that the price for Nash would have include multiple NHL forwards.

Despite having those resources to ante up, Khan reports that the negotiation went nowhere with the Blue Jackets, who apparently aren't keen about Nash making them feel miserable on a regular basis as a division rival.

It makes sense that the Blue Jackets wouldn't want to trade Nash within the division, but if they're turning down huge offers from a team with as much talent to unload as the Red Wings, who can provide enough in a trade to convince the Jackets to finally pull the trigger?

If they keep upping the ante for what they'll accept in a trade for Nash, they might just end up keeping their star player around. The list of teams that are willing to pick him up will keep dwindling the longer it takes.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Rick Nash Deserves Just As Much Blame For Trade Fiasco As Scott Howson

Throughout the Rick Nash trade saga, the Columbus Blue Jackets and general manager Scott Howson have come out looking less than clean in all the drama. Nash has been considered the good soldier who did all he could for an inept franchise with a leader who has made a slew of questionable decisions.

However, there are two sides to every story and two of SB Nation's staff writers believe Howson's side of the story has not been fairly presented.

On Thursday, NHL editor Travis Hughes succinctly explained the predicament Howson is in by having to trade the most important player in the history of the franchise:

So here's the general manager, suddenly forced to trade away the greatest player to ever pull on his team's uniform. A fan favorite. A local icon, really. And if he ships Nash out of town for anything less than a king's ransom, the calls for his head will only get louder. He'll almost certainly lose his job at the slightest hiccup.

Then on Friday, Dominik Jansky argued that Nash's unwillingness to expand his list of 'preferred' teams is only hamstringing the franchise further and contradicts his initial explanation for asking to be traded, which was to help the team rebuild:

Nash's team made him a star and captain and committed nearly $100 million and a no-trade clause to him, but because they haven't been good, he wants a trade. To help the franchise, he assures you. But only to a few teams that are really good. With really good centers. That all know Howson is stuck, so they won't offer him equal return.

While Howson has certainly made some terrible decisions during his time as GM, it is fair to say that he may be shouldering too much blame in the fiasco that has become the Rick Nash saga. It's important to remember that he isn't the only one pulling the strings in this situation and Nash is the one who has the last word on any deal.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Rick Nash Trade 'In Holding Pattern'; List Of Teams Released

On Monday morning, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch was able to put into print the list of teams that Columbus Blue Jackets superstar forward Rick Nash is willing to go to, which included clubs such as the Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks.

Basically, all of these teams have been speculated as the destinations that Nash would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to go to. However, the problem has never been the teams he's willing to go to; it's the teams that he isn't willing to go to that has been holding up the process.

The Ottawa Senators reportedly made such a strong offer that the Blue Jackets were ready to make the deal, but Nash wasn't interested in playing in Ottawa and the Senators eventually pulled themselves out of the running.

New York and Philadelphia have long been considered the most capable suitors to match the high-asking price by general manager Scott Howson. However, those two teams aren't willing to pay that price, because they believe it is too high.

As of this time, Portzline states that the trade is in a holding pattern and that nothing is on the horizon.

With unrestricted free agents Shane Doan and Alexander Semin still on the open-market, teams may not be desperate enough to acquire a top-6 winger to fork out the necessary assets to acquire Nash's services.

At the same time, even after those players determine where they want to play, Anaheim's Bobby Ryan and Dallas' Brenden Morrow have been rumored to be available for the right price and will certainly be less expensive than Howson's asking price for Nash.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Ottawa Senators Pull Themselves From Nash Sweepstakes

As the hockey world stands still waiting for free agent superstars Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to decide where they seemingly wish to play out the rest of their careers, the Columbus Blue Jackets and their superstar Rick Nash are anxiously waiting for a trade market to develop for Nash's services.

It is believed that once Parise signs, any team who failed to acquire the forward would then pay hand-over-fist to trade for Nash.

According to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, the Ottawa Senators were more than willing to try and get a deal done to bring Nash to Canada's capital city regardless of where Parise signed. Surprisingly, so too were the Blue Jackets. The only one not interested in the deal was Nash.

Via the Columbus Dispatch:

Ottawa is not on Nash's preferred list, either, and the Senators have publicly pulled themselves out of the running. GM Bryan Murray told Sportsnet yesterday that he's not "chasing." That's a setback to the process, as source say the Blue Jackets got deeper into talks with the Senators than any other club. It was in those talks that the Marc Methot - for - Nick Foligno idea was born, a trade that was consummated yesterday.

While Nash's 'list of desired teams' has yet to be made public, it is assumed that the Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and San Jose Sharks are preferred destinations. The Carolina Hurricanes have made a heavy push as well, but it is believed that Nash doesn't want to play in Carolina.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Hoping Market Develops After Free Agency Starts

With free agency set to begin on Sunday at noon, the Columbus Blue Jackets are hoping that a market will develop for disgruntled captain Rick Nash. On the trading block since the start of Feb., the situation has continued to worsen as the Blue Jackets have failed to receive an offer that is to the standard that they hope to receive for Nash.

This has caused all involved to squirm with pain hoping that the situation will resolve itself soon.

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson is optimistic that free agency signings will help create a group of teams desperate to add a scoring forward of Nash's caliber.

All quiet w #CBJ / Nash right now. GM Scott Howson hopes the FA market plays out in a way that demand for Nash increases.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 29, 2012

According to Portzline, the two biggest suitors in the Nash sweepstakes are the New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators. However, Nash is not interested in playing in Ottawa at this time.

Portzline also said that Howson was not opposed to trading Nash in the Central Division if the deal was right.

Ultimately, that deal would cost that Central Division team quite a bit.

#RedWings have inquired about Rick Nash, but CBJ doesn't want to trade him to Detroit. Wings would have to blow Blue Jackets out of water.

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) June 28, 2012

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Offers Not Close Enough, GM Scott Howson Says

The biggest story across the NHL right now is the speculation surrounding the Columbus Blue Jackets and their plans to try and move team captain Rick Nash at some point this offseason. The preeminent power forward in the NHL today, Nash is a player coveted by every team in the league, which has given Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson a great deal of leverage in negotiations.

Via Aaron Portzline's Puck-Rakers Blog:

The Blue Jackets have shown much patience in making a Nash trade, turning down offers that weren't to their liking at the NHL trade deadline in February. GM Scott Howson continues to insist that he'll wait as long as it takes to get the right return for Nash, even if it means going beyond the start of free agency on July 1, and even if it means Nash remains a Blue Jacket heading into next season.

As talks have started to heat up in anticipation of Friday night's entry draft, Howson is still standing firm on Nash.

As for Rick Nash trade? Howson said no offers are close. "They have a ways to go yet."

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) June 22, 2012

This is consistent with reports from Thursday night where Howson insisted that a deal for the star forward was not any closer than it had been at the trade deadline in February.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can check out more hockey news from around the league at SB Nation's NHL page, or watch SB Nation's YouTube channel:

NHL Trade Deadline 2012, Blue Jackets Keep Rick Nash, Look Towards Future

As reports swirled that multiple teams were interested in making a mega-move to acquire Rick Nash from the Blue Jackets, it was a virtual certainty that Columbus was going to be busy right until the very end of the 2012 NHL trade deadline.

Or not.

As 3:00 p.m. EST came and went yesterday, so too did the opportunity to move Nash in an effort to acquire multiple pieces that fit into the franchise's future. After unloading center Jeff Carter to the Kings just days before, it seemed that the Blue Jackets were in full sell-mode, but that proved not to be the case.

And while Nash may eventually be traded during the offseason, Columbus will now finish this regular season with a roster that includes puck-moving defenseman Jack Johnson (acquired in the Carter trade), and can look forward to the draft, which may include the top overall selection and a conditional first round pick (also included in the Carter swap).

The Carter deal was preceded by a move to acquire goalie Curtis McElhinney and two draft picks from Phoenix in exchange for forward Antoine Vermette. The Blue Jackets later shipped forward Sami Pahlsson to Vancouver for another pair of draft picks.

In all, Columbus came away with five additional draft picks in their deadline deals, which should set the team up with an opportunity to rebuild the roster through the amateur draft. Blue Jackets fans are hopeful that general manager Scott Howson can make good on those picks and guide the franchise back to the playoffs for just the second time since its inception.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, head to The Cannon. For more on the NHL in general, head to the SB Nation NHL hub at sbnation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Despite Push From New York, Rick Nash Not Traded As Deadline Passes

Well, that was anticlimactic. After weeks of speculation, the trade deadline of 3 p.m. on Monday came and went but Rick Nash was not traded and will remain a Blue Jacket.

There were plenty of teams said to be in contention for Nash's services. The Los Angeles Kings were said to be interested early before they instead took Jeff Carter from Columbus. The San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs both had deals on the table as well, and the New York Rangers were doing everything in their power to land him, but Columbus' asking price just seemed to always be just a bit too high for their superstar.

The Blue Jackets will probably try and trade Nash again during the summer, and unless they want to have a repeat of the long trading discussions from this deadline period they will lower their price for the star a bit.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, head to The Cannon. For more on the NHL in general, head to the SB Nation NHL hub at sbnation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors 2012: San Jose, Toronto Looking At Nash With New York Out

The trade deadline of 3 p.m. ET on Monday is quickly approaching, and Rick Nash is still a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The New York Rangers looked the easy favorites to pick him up earlier, but Columbus' asking price seemed to be far too high for the Rangers to handle and on Sunday evening they dropped themselves from the race.

Now it looks like the two teams remaining in the race for Nash are the San Jose Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, two teams that have otherwise made only small splashes in the approach to the trade deadline. Columbus radio station FAN 97.1 reported early on Monday that there were two offers in from those teams. The only confirmed trade piece is Joffrey Lupel in the Toronto side of things.

Columbus' FAN 97.1 reports CBJ pondering 2 firm offers from #Sharks & #Leafs for #Nash. Latter to inc LW Joffrey Lupul #SNTRADE #TradeCentre

The asking price is obviously incredibly high from Columbus to get the services of their superstar, and for obvious reasons they want a huge return for him. With New York dropping out because of the price being so high, it's hard to say what San Jose or Toronto could offer to get Nash on their teams without breaking their own banks.

Only hours remain until the deadline, time will tell if either of those 'firm' offers are firm enough to get Columbus' attention and get Nash in a new sweater by the end of the season.

For more on Nash and the Columbus Blue Jackets, head to The Cannon. For more on the NHL in general, head to the SB Nation NHL hub.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Rangers Drop Out

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Agent 'Hopeful' A Deal Can Get Done

The first big name to really be discussed when the NHL trade deadline got near was Rick Nash. The Columbus Blue Jackets have since shipped off Jeff Carter and acquired Jack Johnson, but a potential deal with Nash could still come before the deadline on Monday. Plenty of teams remain interested in acquiring the services of Nash, currently the captain of the Blue Jackets and a big fan of the area he's in and the team he plays on.

But that doesn't mean Nash doesn't want to go elsewhere, particularly to a contender. He's not in any hurry to leave Columbus, but there was always speculation that Nash would want to go somewhere with a better chance to contend, helped along by the list of teams he'd signed off on in regards to a potential trade, which included the San Jose Sharks, who are in heavy pursuit of him.

Nash's agent, Joe Resnick, has been quiet throughout all of this, but has finally spoken up. Bob McKenzie of TSN had some quotes from Resnick over Twitter (here and here):

"We're hopeful a deal can get done prior to the trade deadline that is fair and equitable for the Blue Jackets... However, if a deal is not reached, then the list of acceptable teams will not change at a later date."

His words are significant for a couple reasons. For one, Nash seemed lukewarm to the idea of a trade when this whole saga starter, talking about how much he loves the community and his teammates, but now his agent is suggesting that getting a trade done is now the priority. Until now, it seemed like a desperation move from the Blue Jackets, now it seems like Nash wants to get things over with.

For two, the second bit notes that Nash may pursue a trade once the season is over, and will keep the teams he's already approved as options. Everything can change before then, but it's certainly worth noting at this point. If Nash wants a trade in the offseason, nobody really knows how that would go because the Blue Jackets may be cleaning house to acquire a new general manager. Should be interesting, to say the least.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Forward Still On Trading Block; Jack Johnson 'Excited'

For those NHL fans that thought the trade talks surrounding Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Rick Nash were over because Jeff Carter was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings Thursday. Well, you have the wrong train of thought.

That's because according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, the Blue Jackets are still willing to listen to trade offers for Nash.

Told the trade of #CBJ C Jeff Carter does not impact CBJ's willingness to trade captain Rick Nash. He's still available for right price.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 24, 2012

Meanwhile, Columbus' newly acquired defensemen Jack Johnson, who was a part of the Carter deal and is a native of Indianapolis and graduate of the University of Michigan, is excited about returning to the Midwest and a fan-friendly organization.

#CBJ D Jack Johnson tells Dispatch: "I’m excited by this. I’m excited to go to a team that wants me, and to play in a great sports city...."

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 24, 2012

More Johnson: "I want to be part of the solution there. I know they’ve had some bad breaks and some tough seasons, but it’s going ... "

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 24, 2012

Portzline reported earlier that Johnson will wear jersey number seven.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Sharks Big Players, But Won't Be Pressured Into Hasty Trade

The NHL trade deadline is fast approaching, and the big bit of news still pertains to Rick Nash. He's the big acquisition that teams are going after, and among the most interested teams are the San Jose Sharks and the New York Rangers. The latter team has been involved since the beginning of this saga, while the Sharks have only recently been linked.

More than being linked, the Sharks are considered to be in heaviest pursuit of Nash. There's talks of potential players involved, with Logan Couture being the only player truly taken off the table. The Sharks declined that Couture be used as any kind of starting point, and it makes sense given that he's not just an up-and-comer, but already developing into somewhat of a superstar on his own.

That being said, this thing could come down to the wire. If Nash is moved, Blue Jackets fans should probably expect it to go right up to the deadline, especially if the Sharks remain the major player for Nash. As noted on SB Nation Bay Area, San Jose's general manager, Doug Wilson, isn't going to be pressured into making a move based on two or three games.

Columbus may have thought they'd be helping themselves into getting the Sharks to think they need to make a move by embarrassing them in their last outing, but that's probably not the case. The Sharks aren't a team known for making big moves during the season, but they did make some pretty big moves this past offseason with the acquisition of Brent Burns and Martin Havlat. Either way, the decision won't come down to the recent string of losses by San Jose, that's for sure.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Could The Sharks Make A Move?

The Columbus Blue Jackets have had all number of different teams rumored to want to pick up Rick Nash from them including big names like the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers, but it might be a different Californian team that will be looking the hardest into grabbing the Jackets superstar.

SB Nation Bay Area brings up the fact that the Sharks are in dire need of players who can score goals if the Sharks are going to get their playoff push together and finally win the Stanley Cup that has evaded them for all of these years. It could take a player like Nash to push that team back into the contention that they've been in the past while, so the Sharks will probably be one of the big names to keep your eyes on in the next couple of days.

If not Nash, perhaps Jeff Carter could be a name to keep an eyes on for the Sharks. Someone who can score goals is needed in the bay area, and fast.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Blue Jackets Trade Rumors 2012: Columbus Asking For At Least 4 Pieces In Rick Nash Trade Scenarios

Columbus Blue Jackets superstar Rick Nash is unquestionably the top candidate in NHL trade deadline rumors market right now, with all sorts of teams said to be in contention for him. The Kings and Rangers appeared to be the top candidates, though recent rumors have also had the Flyers in the mix for him.

The star winger might not be leaving at all though, simply because dishing out the only real superstar that Columbus has ever known would be such a monumentally large move. If he does leave, it looks like Columbus is asking for a heck of a lot of players and draft picks for the star. Darren Dreger says as much in his Friday mailbag, talking about how confusingly complex the Nash trade talks are currently getting after a question about Columbus requiring a star goalkeeper to be involved with any trade that the Jackets make:

For those who feel that way, perhaps they're not as close to being in contention for Nash as they might wish. This is such a mammoth trade - in terms of impact on the Blue Jackets and the city of Columbus - and the complexity of establishing Nash's trade value even to the fortunate few believed to be involved, that time is a huge issue. Ten days may not be enough to swing a deal that will impact this team for years to come.

Four pieces for Nash might seem like a pretty big amount, but Nash is an absolutely proven talent even in year after year of less than good situations, and that's something you don't find much in the NHL. If there's talk of a star goalie being brought in though, perhaps the Buffalo Sabres and Ryan Miller will be the next team getting talked about as a trade partner with the Jackets. Certainly an interesting thought, even if the Sabres might not have three other pieces that they could send out with Miller.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Wanted Tuukka Rask From Boston In Exchange For Captain, According To Report

The rumors continue to swirl regarding the Columbus Blue Jackets and their captain, Rick Nash. All indications are that the woeful Columbus performance this season has led to the team shopping their star player in order to rebuild for the future.

The latest bit of information regarding these rumors comes from Jimmy Murphy at ESPN Boston. Murphy reported on Sunday that the Jackets had been in talks with the Boston Bruins regarding a potential trade, but their asking price may have been too rich for the Bruins to entertain. Columbus through that Nash might be able to fetch them goaltender Tuukka Rask.

Rask is a 24-year-old Finnish player who has been in the Bruins system since 2007. He currently serves as the backup for starter Tim Thomas, but it is clear that the Bruins have big future plans for Rask, or at the very least feel they can get more than Nash in exchange for the goalie.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Kings, Rangers Making Biggest Push Before Deadline

On Thursday, a list came out, a list of teams that were potential suitors for acquiring the services of Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the NHL trade deadline. The New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and the Vancouver Canucks are teams who are all interested, and Nash signed off on all them, waiving his no-movement clause - save for the Canucks. So with that team eliminated, who are pursuing him the most?

Well, the top two suitors are the aforementioned Rangers and Kings. The former was the first team linked to Nash at all, while the latter is struggling to overtake the division rival Sharks. That's where it gets really interesting, as two divisional teams both going after the same player could mean a higher price paid to the Blue Jackets. There's a lot to consider regarding a potential trade with San Jose, but the divisional rival factor could make them want to get a deal done.

It's worth noting, though, that the Kings and Rangers are considered "Plan A" right now, with the Sharks being a secondary option. With the Kings throwing around names like Jonathan Bernier and Jack Johnson, it will be interesting to see if they have the leverage to get ahead of the Rangers. Either way, it's very clear that multiple teams are taking a run at Nash, though some are doing more than others.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Canucks Not On Approved List; Sharks, Rangers, Others Are

Rick Nash is the big topic around the league when it comes to the NHL trade deadline. Most teams who could be interested in making any kind of trade have had articles written about the possibility of interest in Nash, with two substantial teams in particular: the New York Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks.

Though Nash has a no-movement clause in his contract, he's already signed off on the Rangers as a potential destination, but it looks as though the possibility of Vancouver was short-lived, according to the Vancouver Sun's Elliott Pap on Twitter:

Nucks not on Rick Nash's 'approved list', says Columbus writer Aaron Portzline. The five are: Leafs, Bruins, NYR, Sharks, Kings. #canucks

It was considered a long shot for the Canucks anyway, considering the high price of Nash and the money they already have committed to their own star players. It's also significant because it lists some teams that haven't been given significant consideration, like the San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings.

Even more worthy of note is the fact that the list includes some bad teams along with some good things, meaning that Nash isn't necessarily looking for a place he can go to win immediately, so that opens things up a little in regards to the no-trade clause.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Speculation Rages On About Blue Jackets Star

Rick Nash’s name continues to be bandied about as one of, if not the, prized commodities of the NHL trading season.

Nash, who has 18 goals and 21 assists for the last-place Blue Jackets, has been linked to a number of teams, the New York Rangers among them. In this post over at Blueshirt Banter, Joe Fortunato writes that Columbus’ asking price may be too high for the Rangers:

It’s become clear that general manager Scott Howson wants a goaltender in return.

The New York Rangers aren’t exactly bursting at the seams with NHL-ready goaltenders (at least none Sather would be willing to move). If that happens to be a must when it comes to Howson trading Nash, then the Rangers are, in all likelihood, out of the bidding.

Same could be true for the Canucks. According to the National Post:

[Nash] isn’t coming to Vancouver before the National Hockey League dealing deadline because the price for Nash, both in trade and as a US$7.8-million salary-cap hit, are prohibitively expensive.

Detroit, too, has been discussed as part of the Nash sweepstakes. CBS’ Detroit affiliate published this article about whether or not the Wings could make a play:

I don’t know for a fact, but if Detroit were to actually get Nash, I assume prospect Brendan Smith, Valteri Filpula, Gustav Nyquist, and Darren Helm or Justin Abdelkader would be involved. Would you be willing to give that up? I wouldn’t!

Surely there will be no shortage of speculation as the Feb. 27 trade deadline nears.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation’s main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Rangers Showing Interest In Blue Jackets' Star

Though it's perfectly feasible that the Columbus Blue Jackets want to keep Rick Nash, pay him his salary and enjoy his high level of play, they could still be shopping him around, looking for potential ways to improve. There's plenty of rumors swirling around regarding a potential trade before the February 27 deadline, but whether the Blue Jackets are shopping him or other teams are inquiring about him, there's no doubting that there's teams talking if Columbus is willing to listen.

According to the New York Post, one team in particular is now known: the New York Rangers. There have reportedly been some preliminary talks regarding Nash and a potential trade, which apparently have gone far enough to include talks of specific players and picks:

The Post had been told the opening asking price for the 6-4, 220-pounder who has spent his entire career with the Blue Jackets following his first-overall selection in the 2002 Entry Draft is in excess of the package speculated to be Brandon Dubinsky, Boston College can't-miss prospect Chris Kreider and a first-round draft choice.

The article goes on to note potential problems with this trade for the Rangers, though it's unlikely this actually reflects the asking price for the Blue Jackets, who are in a pretty high position of power. The only thing limiting that position of power is the fact that Nash has a no-trade clause in his contract, which means the Blue Jackets can't pick where to send him. They can, of course, trade him to another team if he signs off on it, but that does potentially limit their power.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, the Blue Jackets met last week to discuss the possibility of trading Nash. They also had some quotes from Nash, who makes it clear that he is fond of where he is right now and that he wants to focus on hockey:

"The last couple of weeks there have been so many rumors," Nash said, "and when a team loses, more rumors keep on surfacing. That's it seems to be right now, is just rumors. I'm a Blue Jacket right now. I've played my whole career here and it's a special place to me. So as of right now I'm a Blue Jacket."

This is often the norm for a player potentially on the trade block, because if a trade doesn't surface and they've already went public about wanting to be moved, it could cause a rift with the original team. Still, Nash has played with Columbus his entire career and it's pretty clear he means what he says when he says it's a special place to him.

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon. You can also head over to SB Nation's main NHL hub at SBNation.com/NHL.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Reportedly Making Star Player Available

For more on the Columbus Blue Jackets, go to The Cannon.