The NHL trade deadline is just under two weeks away, which means there should be at least one pertinent rumor per NHL team, right? The Columbus Blue Jackets are having a terrible season, with disappointment around every corner, but they're not without good players. They're not without absolutely fantastic players, as a matter of fact. Their star player, Rick Nash, has been with the Blue Jackets for his entire career.
But could he be on his way out?
According to a tweet from Renaud P Lavoie of RDS, it's certainly a possibility that Nash be moved. The tweet, citing two NHL sources, simply says that the Blue Jackets have made it known that Nash is on the market. While this isn't the most air-tight news, given the state of the team and the price Nash would likely command, it's not something that would be surprising.
It would be surprising if the current general manager, Scott Howson, is the one actually working the trade, given that his job status is up-in-the-air for next year, but it is what it is. Nash has a no-trade clause, but there are those who think that Nash would be open to a trade if it meant going somewhere he has a better chance of winning. Howson also has reportedly said that Nash isn't on the trade block.
But there's been enough rumors to make this solid news. It also helps that Darren Dreger of TSN is saying that the Blue Jackets are open to anything that will help their team long-term. When a team says they're open like that, you can bet they'll be getting calls about a player like Rick Nash.
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.