NHL

Report: Rick Nash Traded To The New York Rangers

by Evan Sporer | 2:48 pm, July 23rd, 2012

In what had become quite the lengthy saga, Rick Nash was finally dealt by the Columbus Blue Jackets to the New York Rangers. The move is a major one: Nash is a top-10 talent, and now he’s going to a major media market with one of the NHL’s best teams.

Nash, who was dangled as trade bait at this past trading deadline, was finally moved in a package that sent Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, a first round pick, and Artem Anisimov to Columbus.

According to the combined forces of @DarrenDreger and @TSNBobMcKenzie, it’s Dubinsky, Anisimov, Erixon and a 1st round pick for Nash

— EJ Hradek (@EJHradek_NHL) July 23, 2012

The Rangers finished first in the Eastern Conference last season, before losing to the New Jersey Devils in the Conference Finals. New York had been a team starved for offense, and acquired all-star center Brad Richards last off-season to help bolster their attack. Nash’s scoring will be immediately needed, with New York’s top scorer, Marian Gaborik, expected to miss the beginning of next season after undergoing off-season shoulder surgery.

Beginning his rookie season in 2003, Nash has scored 27 or more goals in each of his eight years of service. He scored more than 30 goals in seven of those season, and eclipsed the 40-goal mark twice. Again, the reason this is big: one of the league’s best players is going to one of its best teams.

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