FOLLOWING WHAT MATTERS TO YOU.

NEW YORK RANGERS
Torey-Krug-continues-hot-playoff-debut-as-Bruins-go-up-2-0-on-Rangers 5/19/13 - Torey Krug continues hot playoff debut as Bruins go up 2-0 on Rangers
BACK
Add the New York Rangers to My HUB

Rangers complete trade with Columbus for Rick Nash

by Craig Lowell       July 23rd, 2012 2:43 PM
  • Rangers-complete-trade-with-Columbus-for-Rick-Nash
  • Columbus Blue Jackets right wing Rick Nash lines up for a face off in the game against the Carolina Hurricanes. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-US PRESSWIRE

    • As first reported by TSN’s Darren Dreger, the New York Rangers finally got their man on Monday when they traded for Columbus winger Rick Nash. Heading back to the Blue Jackets will be forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defense prospect Tim Erixon, and a first round pick. The Rangers also received a third round pick and a defense prospect as part of the deal.

    In Nash, the Rangers get the hulking power forward that they’ve been lacking for several years. The former Columbus captain comes with one of the highest cap hits in the league at $7.8 million for the next six seasons, but has also scored at least 30 goals in six of the past seven seasons and will be a bruising presence on the Rangers’ top line alongside Brad Richards. And with top goal scorer Marian Gaborik out with a torn rotator cuff until at least late November, the team was desperate for some offensive firepower. They get exactly that in Nash.

    With teams dropping out of the bidding left and right over the past few weeks, Columbus GM Scott Howson’s leverage was waning by the day, and Glen Sather took full advantage in sending back the pieces that he did. Dubinsky is a talented young player at 26 years old, but is coming off a career-worst season that saw his goal production drop from 24 to 10 in just one year. Anisimov is also a talented two-way player, but comes with serious flaws that include a lack of foot speed and a shot that takes way too long to get off. Erixon might just turn out to be the best player that Columbus got and could have contributed on the Rangers’ blue line this season, but is still an unknown commodity.

    The Rangers are offsetting Nash’s cap hit in large part with the salaries of Dubinsky ($4.2m cap hit) and Anisimov ($1.875m), though they might have a situation on their hands in the next few years with some of their RFAs. Among the pieces that Sather deemed untouchable during these negotiations were young forwards Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider, as well as future star defenseman Ryan McDonagh, all of whom will be RFAs and due for substantial raises after next season (and they also retained current RFA Michael Del Zotto, though whether he was ‘untouchable’ is a mystery). If they’re unable to work some cap magic in the next year, they might be in for a tough task when it comes time to retain those pieces.

    But for now, the Rangers — and specifically Sather — can hold their heads high knowing that they got they far better end of this deal and that their patience paid off. Last February, Howson’s asking price reportedly included both McDonagh and Kreider, and Sather was able to get that down by a huge margin (figure Erixon for McDonagh and Anisimov for Kreider). That’s a pretty good day at the office.

    What did you think? Leave a comment

    TOPICS

    RELATED STORIES
    More

    Fan Hub Action

    LATEST CHATTER

    Rangers, Bruins ready to resume hostilities
    The irony - and bravery - of Jason Collins's decision

    • Charlie Lobosco May 1st

      This is a very compelling story because Mr. Collins is a very passionate, tough, intelligent, athelete taking on some additional responsibliity to help others as…

    • Scott Cohen May 1st

      Charlie.. very well said.. he does have guts

    • Scott Cohen May 1st

      but it shouldn’t require guts. .like you said it’s nobody’s business but his own

    The irony of Kobe Bryant's injury

    • Hisham Zameeth April 30th

      best player ever…..

    • Kareem Musa Mayowa April 29th

      We don’t need to be hopeless about the situation bryant his. Because even david villa situation also up to the level of his own to…

    • Maritess Lim April 28th

      I still believe in KOBE’s power…… He is still the best…… He will make it possible no matter what……

    • mimi_aragon84 April 28th

      I feel no pity for him. First of all, it is EAGLE, COLORADO, not Eagleton, secondly he enjoyed success and adulation from fans from 2003…

    POPULAR NOW

    Rangers, Bruins ready to resume hostilities

    May 16th, 2013 12:13 PM

    1
    Nate Robinson misses all 12 shots in loss

    May 14th, 2013 1:28 AM

    The Knicks/English National Team Parallel

    May 16th, 2013 9:45 AM

    ALL TIME FAVES

    Despite tragedy, Boston and its marathon will endure

    April 16th, 2013 12:15 PM

    6
    Tiger on top is the best thing for golf

    April 9th, 2013 11:57 AM

    18
    Questions about sexuality arise at combine

    March 1st, 2013 8:37 AM

    10

    Twitter Chatter

    PEOPLE

    VIDEOS