The NHL's free agent market officially opens for business in less than 48 hours, but the NHL's trade market got a bit more interesting Friday when Columbus Blue Jackets beat writer Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch took to his Twitter account with a new detail about about the Blue Jackets' efforts to trade frustrated star Rick Nash.
"Told #CBJ would trade Rick Nash within Central Division if the deal was right," Portzline posted on his feed (@APortzline). "Can't imagine that would be easy on fans 6 times a year."
It's an intriguing thought, particularly since teams aren't typically keen on sending key players to their most immediate rivals. However, there's a question as to how likely it is that the Blue Jackets COULD deal Nash to one of the other four Central Division teams.
The Detroit Red Wings are the first team that would come to mind, as they are the marquee attraction in the Central Division, and are one of the teams considered among the front-runners for the services of New Jersey Devils captain Zach Parise when free agency begins Sunday. Given that the Blue Jackets' trade of Nash and the market for Parise are widely thought to be connected, it's not impossible that the Red Wings could make a run at Nash if they struck out on Parise. That having been said, however, the Red Wings didn't get to where they are by giving up the kind of package of picks and roster players that Columbus is said to be seeking in return for Nash.
The St. Louis Blues didn't build their Central Division champs on the backs of any superstars, but an elite winger like Nash could take them to the next level. The Blues are something of an unknown quantity on the trade/free agent market, but they're in a good cap situation and have the assets to offer up a package that could compare with the New York Rangers' package, which would likely be built around Brandon Dubinsky and Michael Del Zotto.
The Chicago Blackhawks could be an intriguing destination for Nash, depending on how willing they'd be to part with one of their high-priced forwards. Given that Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews would almost certainly be off limits, and Patrick Sharp and Marian Hossa were Chicago's top two scorers this past season, it's not particularly likely that general manager Stan Bowman would be willing to shake up the lineup like that, but if he were, he'd almost certainly find a willing trading partner in Howson.
That leaves the Nashville Predators, who have enough problems trying to keep the top talent they do have in place. The Preds are thought to be on the verge of losing Ryan Suter, and have a ton of work to do this summer, with just 14 players under contract for 2012-13 (and only five for 2013-14).
On its face, Howson's willingness to trade Nash within the division seems empty, but stranger things have happened, and the trade market is going to look a lot different once Parise signs with his new (or old) team.