Should The New York Rangers Trade For Rick Nash?

The New York Rangers have been in talks to acquire star winger Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets.  He is a proven goal scorer but is it worth it for the Rangers.  They have been at the top of the conference for most of the year and they don’t seem to be slowing down.  Nash is the captain of the Blue Jackets.  He is the most coveted player on the trade market.  He is 27 years old and no one else out there has been dangled like he has.

The Blue Jackets are the worst team in the league and probably the main reason they are looking to trade him.  Nash was the number one overall pick in the 2002 draft.  He is signed through the 2014-15 season and would carry a salary cap hit of $7.8 million dollars.  The Rangers could get him by trading Brandon Dubinski, a prospect and maybe Michael Del Zotto.  It is worth it for them to do that to acquire a goal scorer and hope to win the Stanley Cup.  The Rangers without him are in the number one position in the Eastern conference.  They without him are one of the favorites to win the cup.  If the Rangers stay as they are I don’t think anyone will be too upset about that.  If they do trade for Nash they will have enormous pressure to win now.  I would lean on the side of caution and say it isn’t worth the risk.  What if Nash isn’t able to handle the pressure of New York and becomes a bust?  Can the Rangers win the Stanley Cup right now??  I would say yes they can win it without him.  I would also say there it is more likely that he is a bust rather then the missing piece to put the team over the hump.  It remains to be seen and it isn’t an easy decision.  The Rangers have to think what is their best chance to win now but also in the future.  That will be the key to this deal, the deadline is Monday so we will soon find out.