February 29, 2012, Getting Nash-ty in Columbus column for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Getting Nash-ty in Columbus

Columns

Written by Denis Gorman

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 02:08

Not only did Columbus GM Scott Howson fail to trade Rick Nash, he also revealed that his captain asked for trade. By publicly stating Nash's request, he likely made it even more difficult to complete a good trade for the Blue Jackets. Scott Howson dropped a bomb Monday afternoon. It was not the one most expected. Howson was explaining to reporters during his State of the Blue Jackets’ Fractured Union following the NHL trade deadline why he did not trade Rick Nash. During his session with reporters, the general manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets noted that the 27-year-old franchise cornerstone had asked to be traded in January. “It’s the right thing to do,” Howson declared. “It’s the truthful thing to do.” It is also the equivalent of playing Russian Roulette with a bullet in each chamber. By going public with Nash’s request, Howson may have not only ruined his and the organization’s relationship with its captain, but also placed the Blue Jackets in a position of weakness when trade talks reconvene this summer. Howson’s words are a signal to rival executives that they are now under no obligation to present offers built around top prospects for a player that has no interest in plying his trade in Columbus. That's even if Howson is content to delude himself that a franchise will overpay for an unhappy player. The last time Columbus had a malcontent, Jeff Carter sulked his way into the organization dealing him to Los Angeles for Jack Johnson and a draft pick. That was Thursday. “We’re not going to change our position,” Howson said of his asking price for Nash. “The price was high and I don’t apologize for that. It had to be high.” Reportedly, he turned down an offer from New York Rangers GM Glen Sather in the deadline’s final hours that would have sent Brandon Dubinsky, a first round pick in June’s draft, and prospects Tim Erixon, J.T. Miller and Christian Thomas to Columbus for Nash. It is believed that Howson was adamant that the only way he would part with Columbus’ all-time leader in 16 categories, including games played, points, assists and goals is if the Rangers surrendered a package that included,in some form, Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto and Chris Kreider. “The way the deals were falling out just didn’t make any sense for us. We like our team, we like where we are, we like the youth we have. We have a program in place [and] we want to stick with it,” Sather told the assembled media at Madison Square Garden nearly 75 minutes before the Rangers’ 2-0 win over the Devils. The Rangers were one of five franchises reportedly on Nash’s list of teams to which he would accept a trade. It’s believed that Philadelphia, Toronto, San Jose and Los Angeles were the other preferred destinations. Nash’s five will not change, his agent, Joe Resnick told TSN’s Bob McKenzie on Saturday. “We’re hopeful a deal can get done prior to the deadline that is fair and equitable for the Blue Jackets," Resnick said. "However, if a deal is not reached, then the list of acceptable teams will not change at a later date." Howson professed that the organization “understood what his preference is." "His preference, as far as I know, is going to stay the same. We’ll all have to deal with that as we move forward.” The overriding storyline in Columbus’ remaining 20 games in the season’s final six weeks will be how Nash views the organization in the aftermath will-he-stay-or-will-he-go saga. “We’re going to do what’s best for our team," Howson said. "I have no questions about Rick’s character, the quality of person he is and the commitment he’ll give us over the next six weeks. “We wanted to make sure that everybody understood where everybody was on this issue because it’s a very important issue for our franchise. I think things will continue to be amicable between Rick and the organization.” He is either lying or naïve. Because with his words Howson has almost certainly ended any future Nash may have had with the Blue Jackets and perhaps permanently damaged any hope the organization may have had for its future. You can follow us on Twitter @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman Photos by Getty Images

Last Updated on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 03:37

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