Rick Nash’s 12-team approved trade list cuts across the border and could be expanded upon further review, No. 61 told Slap Shots on Saturday.
“I included the teams that I think have the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup and are also places I think would be good for my family,” the 33-year-old father of two young children said. “And, yes, that does include teams in Canada. I’m not excluding that as a possibility.”
It is believed teams not on the list have been in touch with Joe Resnick, the pending free agent’s agent, to inquire whether Nash might be persuaded into adding them to the mix.
“I’m not sure if that’s been the case yet. It’s been pretty quiet on my end up to now,” Nash said. “I’m not going to include 30 teams, but I would take a look if that came up. I was asked to pick a certain number of teams, but I don’t want to say anything is off-limits.
“It’s a weird situation for me. I could be going someplace for a few months, but I also might wind up staying with a new contract, too. If I’m not wanted here, I’m open to anything.”
Nash invoked that phrase, “If I’m not wanted here,” a couple of times. He caught himself, paused, then amended it.
“I shouldn’t really say that in that way,” he said. “I learned at an early age not to take these things personally. There is no organization in the league that treats its players better than this one does.
“But it’s no secret what the plan is here now. They held a press conference and sent out a letter to tell everyone. If they can get younger players and draft picks for me, then I won’t be here. It’s part of this business.”
There is no more attractive top-six, complete-game, secondary-scoring winger available on the rental market. The Rangers need to maximize the return for Nash, with NHL-ready quality rather than accept only late first-rounders and mid-level prospects coming back. Dallas, Nashville, San Jose and St. Louis have expressed interest. Boston is in. Winnipeg, where the Rangers play Sunday afternoon, may be interested; Tampa Bay, too. Toronto could be, as well, but seems reluctant to jump into the pool head-first.
“I’ve never been in this spot before,” said the 15-year veteran who is in his sixth year with the Rangers. “When I was traded here [from Columbus in July 2012], I had a complete no-move, so different options were presented to me that I could either approve or veto. This is different.”
Nash, who has scored in consecutive games, has recorded eight goals in the past 12 matches and 17 overall. He is doing what he can to play with a clear mind, but it hasn’t necessarily been that simple. It’s clear, too, Nash has been stung by it.
“I kind of knew it was coming, but still, the first couple of days [after they asked for the list] were tough, for sure,” he said. “Imagine if your boss told you that they were sending you to another paper, but they couldn’t tell you exactly where, and as long as you were still at [The Post] to make sure you wrote your best articles.
“It’s weird. But as long as I am a Ranger, I’m going to play my hardest and do my best. I’m playing for the guys in the room, I’m playing for the Ranger logo, and I’m playing for the fans who spend their money to watch us. To me, that what comes with being a pro.”
The Lightning are extremely interested in Ryan McDonagh, and if the Rangers can get the best return from Tampa Bay, then by all means.
But management should remember how Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman squeezed every last drop from the Blueshirts in the negotiations for Martin St. Louis at the 2014 deadline, though No. 26 had a one-team-only trade approval list that began and ended with the Rangers.
McDonagh is not just some guy out there. He is likely to be a missing link to the Cup if a top-end contender acquires him for not only the remainder of this season but next year as well. The Rangers should demand high-end return for this high-end defenseman who would slot perfectly behind Victor Hedman.
If the Blueshirts have their sights set on 19-year-old rookie defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, then that’s the price. If they are homed in on top-flight prospects Boris Katchouk, Taylor Raddysh or Cal Foote, then general manager Jeff Gorton should stick to his guns and force Yzerman to pay the way the Hall of Famer — who takes full advantage of running a team in a no-tax state — forced the Rangers to pay four years ago.
It is beyond disappointing to learn the Alibi Culture lives on in Long Island/Brooklyn, even under this progressive ownership.
Because when general manager Garth Snow says as he did this week that injuries are “100 percent” the reason the Islanders aren’t in a secure playoff position, he is doing nothing more than handing out crutches to his coaching staff and players — and himself, come to think of it — as if it were some promotional giveaway night.
“Not making excuses,” he said out of the other side of his mouth. “I’m stating a fact.”
The fact is injuries are not only a part of the game, but they reveal either depth or flaws within an organization.
The facts are, according to data processed by the invaluable @NHLInjuryViz, that in man-games lost, the Islanders are eighth in the league (tough, obviously), but the Golden Knights are second, the Blues are third and the Bruins are seventh.
Regarding cap hits of injured players, the Islanders again are eighth, while the Bruins are fourth, the Blues are fifth and the Golden Knights are seventh. In average minutes of injured players, the Islanders are 11th, while the Golden Knights are second, the Blues are fourth and the Bruins are seventh.
Nevertheless, entering Saturday, the Golden Knights were second in the overall standings, the Bruins were third and the Blues were sixth. The Islanders, oh, they were 19th.
That’s the fact.