The Rick Nash sweepstakes might not be over for the Philadelphia Flyers. The Columbus Blue Jackets star still lists the Flyers as one of the few teams with which he would approve a trade. Could that mean that the Flyers are exploring the possibility of bringing Nash to Philadelphia? While Nash is a solid player, I would only be happy with a deal like this if the price is right. That means that the Flyers would have to find a deal that doesn't require them to give up one of their young studs. Barring that, I'd just as soon see Nash remain in Columbus.
Nash is definitely a solid player. At 28-years-old, he is in the prime of his career. With at least 30 goals in five straight seasons, he is definitely a solid offensive force. However, Nash has some drawbacks. First, he would count for almost $8 million against the cap. That is a bigger number than any player currently on the Flyers. I have serious questions about his ability to be a franchise player. I would have welcomed that kind of salary cap hit for Zach Parise, but Nash is not Parise.
The other big drawback is the asking price. Columbus is rumored to want Sean Couturier or Brayden Schenn in addition to other players. I wouldn't trade either of those guys straight up for Nash. Both have tremendous potential and both are likely to be better than Nash within a few seasons. Not only that, but they were the cornerstones of the trades that sent away Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. Are the Flyers really going to get rid of one of them after just one season? I can't see that happening.
If the asking price doesn't drop, I don't see any chance of Nash coming to Philadelphia. Even if it does, the Flyers should explore other options. There are players available with lower prices that could come close to matching Nash's productivity. We frequently hear about Bobby Ryan, a local guy that will easily become popular in the orange and black jersey. I would rather see the Flyers do that than waste a lot of talent on Nash. Of course, if the right package comes along than I will be happy to welcome him to the team.
Mark Paul is a Philadelphia resident and lifelong Flyers fan.
