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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.

Photographs by spatulated, Triple Tri, and chrischappelear used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.