The Rangers have had preliminary discussions with the Blue Jackets regarding five-time All-Star Rick Nash, according to the New York Post.
A deal between New York and Columbus is reportedly a "long shot," but the Rangers would have the cap space to pursue the Blue Jackets winger, and adding another scorer to a team already atop the Eastern Conference standings could be enticing to Rangers GM Glen Sather.
The New York Post has reportedly been told that the asking price for Nash, who was drafted first overall in 2002, is in excess of the package speculated to be Brandon Dubinsky, Boston College "can't-miss prospect" Chris Kreider and a first-round draft pick.
Nash is in the midst of his ninth season, all of which have come with the Blue Jackets. The 27-year-old has scored 40 or more goals on two separate occasions, and more than 30 goals six times. This season, he has 18-21-39 totals through 56 games.
Nash, who's in the second year of a contract that carries a $7.8 million salary cap hit per season through 2017-18, also has a no-move clause, complicating any potential deal even further.
The star winger has said "I'm a Blue Jacket right now," but Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos reports that Columbus general manager Scott Howson has been given a list of teams to which Nash would accept a trade.
Kypreos said it's believed to be a "very short list."
