Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson wants offensive players for Rick Nash -NHL Update
It seems like Columbus Blue Jackets general manager, Scott Howson, is heating up in negotiations to trade disgruntled team captain, Rick Nash, by stating pretty clearly that he wants forwards for his veteran right winger.
GM Howson was talking with TSN’s “That’s Hockey” on Friday, July 13, 2012, and laid his demand out on the table, which was most probably aimed at those teams who have not been in contact with him as of yet.
Since defence is something that Columbus had already covered pretty well, the GM is looking for not one, but more than one forwards to fix his team’s offensive woes.
"If we do complete a trade, we're trading out a 30- to 40-goal scorer," Howson said. "Defence is probably the strongest part of our team as we look at it today, so we're looking to get some NHL forwards back first and foremost."
Howson also made it clear that if Nash is not traded prior to the beginning of the 2012-2013 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season, he will obviously continue playing as a Blue Jacket due to being contractually bound.
"We don't have a deadline," the GM said. "Rick's under contract and we'll continue to work at this, we'll continue to keep Rick in the loop … and we'll just hope that we get a resolution to this."
Nash has been a part of Columbus ever since the 28-year-old was drafted by Blue Jackets as the first overall back in 2002 NHL Entry Draft. The native of Brampton, Ontario, has nine years of major league experience and has six years left on his contract, which gives him a monstrous $7.8 million each and every season.
"I have a value that I've placed on Rick and that our whole organization has placed on Rick," Howson added.
Being the face of the organisation and letting him go after he literally grew up with the team is definitely not easy for Columbus, but Blue Jackets are willing to trade him but with patience.
Nash had 30 goals and 29 assists last season in 82 games played, so wanting a couple of top-level forwards only seems logical on Howson’s part.
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