
6:30PM: Elliotte Friedman was on SiriusXM earlier today and said that he thinks Rick Nash will be traded from the Rangers by the deadline but that the "biggest question is if" he returns in the offseason.
Friedman adds, "The Rangers like him, obviously his son likes being in New York. I think the biggest question is going to be does he go back next season and I wouldn't be surprised if Grabner gets traded and the same thing happens there." (SiriusXM)
On who could go after Nash, Friedman said "I think Nashville will be in it. I think St. Louis will be in it. It all comes down to where he is willing to go. I think San Jose, if Joe Thornton is coming back, Joe Thornton and Rick Nash are tight. I think those are two guys that would love to play with each other. I think there are a lot of options there. Normally I would put Calgary there but they don't have a high pick. I think there's going to be a lot of interest in Nash, I think Nashville is a team that's really looking at things and it actually makes a lot of sense to me." (SiriusXM)
3:30PM: Bob McKenzie said on TSN 1050 earlier today that Nash wants to stay with the Rangers and that trading him now to recoup some assets doesn't preclude them from possibly bringing Nash back in the summer. (Fan Rag)
Nash said that he loves being a Ranger and that it's disappointing that the team is in this situation. (NY Post)
He added, "my number one goal is to win a Cup with the Rangers and have a successful season with the Rangers. It's unfortunate, but the business side of it." (NY Post)
11:27AM: The Rangers requested Rick Nash's list of 18 teams that they can't trade him to without his approval and Nash submitted the list yesterday. (Bob McKenzie)
The Rangers have the "green light" to trade Nash to any of the 12 teams not on his list. (Bob McKenzie)
- McKenzie tweeted, "I would imagine the 12 teams Nash is willing to go to are teams he believes would give him the best shot to compete for the Cup and would either have the need for a scoring (rental) winger and/or be willing to pay the price."
- McKenzie added, "Of course, the alternate strategy for turning a modified NTC into a virtual full NTC is to allow trades only to teams you know wouldn't want you - non playoff teams, those not needing scoring help - or teams NYR not likely to deal with etc. That gives player more control."
Elliotte Friedman said Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada that the Rangers were expected to request Nash's list "any day now." (Sportsnet)
Friedman also noted "one of the story lines developing, is there are some teams out there who believe that both Nash and Grabner could get traded and then go back to New York next season, they both really like it there." (Sportsnet)
Nash has spoken multiple times about his desire to remain with the Rangers.
It's been reported that the Rangers could retain salary to trade Nash and that potential teams with reported interest include Nashville, Columbus, Dallas, St. Louis, San Jose and Pittsburgh.
Friedman wondered on Saturday if Nash would be of interest to the Winnipeg Jets. (Sportsnet)
Adam Rotter: Nash has an element of control with his list and I'd imagine that the list includes places where Nash has connections, thinks he can be comfortable, be a 3rd, 4th or 5th scoring option and, most importantly, have a shot at the Stanley Cup. In the East, Tampa, Boston, and a return to Columbus are likely places he would accept a deal to. Toronto is a question mark but Mike Babcock was able to lure Patrick Marleau there and Babcock loves Nash, so that could be possible. I'd guess that the Rangers will have higher prices for anyone in the division, including Columbus, if they were to go after Nash. Out West, Nash would fit with most of the teams. I'm not sure he will accept a trade to Winnipeg, though that is a very exciting and fun team but outside of them there are a bunch of teams that have connections and would make sense.