Rick Nash potentially available

[hockeyfan1]

From:  http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/44827-Kennedy-Rick-Nash-trade-requires-immense-return.html

Another potential to land Nash are  the Florida Panthers.  How so?

...The Panthers are a playoff team right now and if Nash doesn?t like the glaring spotlight that comes with playing in a major northeastern city, Florida is the perfect foil.

The Cats also have oodles of goodies in their cupboard. I?d ask for Jonathan Huberdeau and Jacob Markstrom right off the bat and hang up the phone at the slightest indication of dithering. From there, one more prospect ? either physical University of Vermont center Connor Brickley or two-way left winger Quinton Howden of Moose Jaw. A steep price to be sure, but the Cats lose nothing off their immediate roster and have one of the best pipelines in the NHL, so they can take the hit ? plus the Panthers have the cap space.

 

[Boston Leaf]

I hope Burke walks away.. Nash will not hlep in the big picture.. Team defense.. no, better goaltending.. no.. getting younger and faster..no... I want nothing to do with overpaying for Nash

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Can't blame Columbus if they're asking for a king's ransom.  I'd steer clear of him for that reason though.  Maybe take a run at Carter instead.

 

[Redleaf]

Would Burke's popularity drop a few notches if he misses the boat on Nash? If you think about it this could be his defining moment as Leafs GM; "top 6" star player from Toronto who apparently grew up a Leaf fan and wants to play in Toronto is available - such drama!

That's why he's keeping it low key. If the trade doesn't make sense, it doesn't make sense. As long as he doesn't come out and say we want Rick Nash, like he did with John Tavares, he can just tell the media a deal for Nash was never in the cards. Which is most likely the case anyways.

 

[hockeyfan1]

From: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/19/nhl_trade_deadline_leafs_nash_blue_jackets_spector/

...Saturday's debacle at Rogers Arena in Vancouver -- not to mention two games in Alberta that showed Toronto to be tequal to a 10th to 12th place team from a Cup...

Does the acquisition of Nash, the six years remaining on his contract ($7.8-million cap hit), and the three or four pieces of Toronto's future going the other way -- certainly including Jake Gardiner, a first-round pick, and perhaps Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri -- repreisent the construction of an eventual Cup winner? Or is this just another Leafs GM chasing the present, and losing all sight of the master plan?

If Toronto adds Nash, it slows down the process of filling the eight or nine other roster spots that must be properly upgraded in order to turn the Leafs into a legit power.

Sure, Nash could take Toronto to the next level. But what's that? Eighth place? Minus the largesse needed to lure Nash, can Toronto reach the two or three more levels that lie between them and Boston?

Is a Rick Nash acquisition part of the building process, or is the addition of a pricey star something Burke should save for much later in the process?

If it were easy to build a Cup contender, everyone would have one. Burke is laying the groundwork for one in Toronto, but as this past week showed, he's still a long ways away.

Now is the time to hang on, try and make the playoffs and take your aspirations to the UFA market in July. Not to compromise the entire project by adding a superstar to an average team.

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[Damian]

True..... Nash certainly cant keep the puck out of our net......

 

[maplesyrup]

I keep flip-flopping on Nash and find the whole debate rather frustrating to be honest. - One comparison I draw up Thornton. I think Thornton might have a been slightly younger (by maybe just a year or two) when SJ acquired him but it wasn't soon after that he got big money, right? - A year and a half after they acquired him, they signed him to his first of two 3-year extensions (I don't remember what the cap hit was but I'm thinking close to 7 mil?... I could be wrong.) Anyway, again, I don't remember but was SJ significantly further ahead than we are now when they acquired or resigned big Joe in 2007?

Since then, they haven't won the cup but they've always been mentioned among the top teams in the NHL. I mean, Nash is only 27. Is it unreasonable to think Nash could have a Thornton-like affect for us? Now having said that I realize the Sharks probably fleeced the Bruins but there might be enough depth here to do this... Again, I'm not sure.  :-\

 

[ZBBM]

From: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/19/nhl_trade_deadline_leafs_nash_blue_jackets_spector/

...Saturday's debacle at Rogers Arena in Vancouver -- not to mention two games in Alberta that showed Toronto to be tequal to a 10th to 12th place team from a Cup...

Does the acquisition of Nash, the six years remaining on his contract ($7.8-million cap hit), and the three or four pieces of Toronto's future going the other way -- certainly including Jake Gardiner, a first-round pick, and perhaps Joe Colborne or Nazem Kadri -- repreisent the construction of an eventual Cup winner? Or is this just another Leafs GM chasing the present, and losing all sight of the master plan?

If Toronto adds Nash, it slows down the process of filling the eight or nine other roster spots that must be properly upgraded in order to turn the Leafs into a legit power.

Sure, Nash could take Toronto to the next level. But what's that? Eighth place? Minus the largesse needed to lure Nash, can Toronto reach the two or three more levels that lie between them and Boston?

Is a Rick Nash acquisition part of the building process, or is the addition of a pricey star something Burke should save for much later in the process?

If it were easy to build a Cup contender, everyone would have one. Burke is laying the groundwork for one in Toronto, but as this past week showed, he's still a long ways away.

Now is the time to hang on, try and make the playoffs and take your aspirations to the UFA market in July. Not to compromise the entire project by adding a superstar to an average team.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Pretty hard to argue with that.

 

[maplesyrup]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Yes and no... See, it's not like Nash would be some kind of rental. He's probably going to be a star for the 5 years of his deal (or whatever is left on it.) - Still plenty of time to add pieces I think... Again though, maybe I'm wrong... This as I suggested is what is causing the lion's share of my frustration with this.

 

[L K]

I keep flip-flopping on Nash and find the whole debate rather frustrating to be honest. - One comparison I draw up Thornton. I think Thornton might have a been slightly younger (by maybe just a year or two) when SJ acquired him but it wasn't soon after that he got big money, right? - A year and a half after they acquired him, they signed him to his first of two 3-year extensions (I don't remember what the cap hit was but I'm thinking close to 7 mil?... I could be wrong.) Anyway, again, I don't remember but was SJ significantly further ahead than we are now when they acquired or resigned big Joe in 2007?

Since then, they haven't won the cup but they've always been mentioned among the top teams in the NHL. I mean, Nash is only 27. Is it unreasonable to think Nash could have a Thornton-like affect for us? Now having said that I realize the Sharks probably fleeced the Bruins but there might be enough depth here to do this... Again, I'm not sure.  :-\

The big difference of course is that Boston had a big hissy fit over Thornton and blamed him for ALL of their problems and shipped him out at low cost.  Columbus isn't doing that, and I think it is pretty clear to everyone that it is their organization on its own that has been the downfall of the team.  Piecemeal rosters don't win you games.  They aren't going to trade him while he is still under contract for something cheap.

 

[Kin]

From: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/19/nhl_trade_deadline_leafs_nash_blue_jackets_spector/

...
Now is the time to hang on, try and make the playoffs and take your aspirations to the UFA market in July. Not to compromise the entire project by adding a superstar to an average team.

That doesn't add a ton of confidence when Burke has basically ruled himself out of any major free agent who wants market value rather than just take whatever Burke deigns to offer him.

 

[Kin]

Anyway, again, I don't remember but was SJ significantly further ahead than we are now when they acquired or resigned big Joe in 2007?

It's tough to entirely work out what you mean here but it's not like Thornton entirely turned the team around. In 03-04 they were a 104 point team who won their division and made the conference finals. Since acquiring Thornton their best performance was probably the year they had 113 points and made the conference finals.

I mean, Nash is only 27. Is it unreasonable to think Nash could have a Thornton-like affect for us?

Well, ignoring that the Thornton-like effect may not be all you're making it out to be I think it's a little unreasonable in the sense that Nash hasn't shown himself to be as good as Thornton, who was pretty widely regarded as one of the best players in the league when he was dealt.

Now having said that I realize the Sharks probably fleeced the Bruins but there might be enough depth here to do this... Again, I'm not sure.  :-\

I think that the extent to which San Jose got Thornton on the cheap can't be underestimated in it's impact in the way we see that deal. San Jose didn't have to include any of their really talented young players so they weren't as badly affected by things like Cheechoo's disappearance as they might have been. Giving away a big chunk of the team's prospect base to land Nash might be advantageous but it won't be a San Jose like situation where the team gets to build from within and add a superstar in his prime.

 

[L K]

From: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/19/nhl_trade_deadline_leafs_nash_blue_jackets_spector/

...
Now is the time to hang on, try and make the playoffs and take your aspirations to the UFA market in July. Not to compromise the entire project by adding a superstar to an average team.

That doesn't add a ton of confidence when Burke has basically ruled himself out of any major free agent who wants market value rather than just take whatever Burke deigns to offer him.

That is one thing.  Burke doesn't want to give tapered contracts, nor does he want to go past 5 years, even for special players (the one free agent he gave 5 years to....Komisarek )

You just aren't going to get the kind of free agent that Burke seems to want (good and younger than mid-30s) unless you pony up with money and term.  Both of which are things Burke has repeatedly said he won't do.

 

[Redleaf]

From: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2012/02/19/nhl_trade_deadline_leafs_nash_blue_jackets_spector/

...
Now is the time to hang on, try and make the playoffs and take your aspirations to the UFA market in July. Not to compromise the entire project by adding a superstar to an average team.

That doesn't add a ton of confidence when Burke has basically ruled himself out of any major free agent who wants market value rather than just take whatever Burke deigns to offer him.

That is one thing.  Burke doesn't want to give tapered contracts, nor does he want to go past 5 years, even for special players (the one free agent he gave 5 years to....Komisarek )

You just aren't going to get the kind of free agent that Burke seems to want (good and younger than mid-30s) unless you pony up with money and term.  Both of which are things Burke has repeatedly said he won't do.

I think Burke bends or breaks his rules when the time is right for the star power needed to make this team a contender.

 

[ZBBM]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Yes and no... See, it's not like Nash would be some kind of rental. He's probably going to be a star for the 5 years of his deal (or whatever is left on it.) - Still plenty of time to add pieces I think... Again though, maybe I'm wrong... This as I suggested is what is causing the lion's share of my frustration with this.

Well, Spector is assuming you have both Gardiner and Kadri going the other way.  As I said somewhere else, if they'd take Schenn, Kadri, Kulemin, and a 1st I'd do it.  I basically want Nash here, I'd bet the farm that he'd be dynamite.  My hunch is that he'd elevate his game in a premier market, not the other way round.

I want Nash here but not at the expense of more than Luke + 1 of our top young assets not off the D. 

Now, if they'd take Phaneuf .... 

 

[Andy007]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Yes and no... See, it's not like Nash would be some kind of rental. He's probably going to be a star for the 5 years of his deal (or whatever is left on it.) - Still plenty of time to add pieces I think... Again though, maybe I'm wrong... This as I suggested is what is causing the lion's share of my frustration with this.

Well, Spector is assuming you have both Gardiner and Kadri going the other way.  As I said somewhere else, if they'd take Schenn, Kadri, Kulemin, and a 1st I'd do it.  I basically want Nash here, I'd bet the farm that he'd be dynamite.  My hunch is that he'd elevate his game in a premier market, not the other way round.

I want Nash here but not at the expense of more than Luke + 1 of our top young assets not off the D. 

Now, if they'd take Phaneuf .... 

You know, with parity as it is, I'd be a little more concerned about giving up that 1st rounder. A bottom 5 finish is probably unlikely but not exactly out of the realm of possibility. I think I'd prefer shedding a bit of salary and taking a run at one of those UFA's (assuming of course Burke plans on amending his 5yr max contract rule).

 

[Tigger]

Pretty hard to argue with that.

Yes and no... See, it's not like Nash would be some kind of rental. He's probably going to be a star for the 5 years of his deal (or whatever is left on it.) - Still plenty of time to add pieces I think... Again though, maybe I'm wrong... This as I suggested is what is causing the lion's share of my frustration with this.

Well, Spector is assuming you have both Gardiner and Kadri going the other way.  As I said somewhere else, if they'd take Schenn, Kadri, Kulemin, and a 1st I'd do it.  I basically want Nash here, I'd bet the farm that he'd be dynamite.  My hunch is that he'd elevate his game in a premier market, not the other way round.

I want Nash here but not at the expense of more than Luke + 1 of our top young assets not off the D. 

Now, if they'd take Phaneuf .... 

Fwiw I think that's Mark not Lyle?

Y'know, the more I hear 'what it would take' the less I care, Gardiner is a none starter for me, I'd much rather see Burke do something silly like go after Parise or, maybe more importantly, Ryan Suter (if available) than make a trade that rips out a huge chunk of the Leafs young potential.

I would love to have Nash as a player but only if there's a solid plan in place to deal with the consequences of acquiring him, which is pretty murky to me.

 

[maplesyrup]

I would love to have Nash as a player but only if there's a solid plan in place to deal with the consequences of acquiring him, which is pretty murky to me.

Pretty much sums up where I'm at.

 

[Bullfrog]

Same here. I truly think he's the player we need (that and Dustin Brown) but, man, that's a big cap hit. I really don't know how we'd hold on to Kessel, Lupul, and Grabovski at that hit.

We also really need a blue-chip defenseman.

 

[bustaheims]

Same here. I truly think he's the player we need (that and Dustin Brown) but, man, that's a big cap hit. I really don't know how we'd hold on to Kessel, Lupul, and Grabovski at that hit.

That's sort of why my number 1 target would be Bobby Ryan. He's the same type of player as Nash, similar skill level, but, he's younger, his cap hit is $2.7M lower and he's not the face of the franchise in Anaheim. Even with Anaheim's great run, they're 13th in the West and gaining enough points to pass all the teams ahead of them between now and the end of the season is a Herculean task. They may be open to trading Ryan to improve their depth, get longer term replacement for guys like Koivu and Selanne, etc.