New York Rangers' Rick Nash Meets The Media

Rick Nash, newest member of the New York Rangers, met the New York media Wednesday and admitted that the major trade that sent him from the Columbus Blue Jackets to New York has made the past few days "a little crazy."

I don't know that I have had time to digest it all just yet, it's been a little crazy coming here, but I am excited. Everyone always says this is a first-class organization and I can see that already. ...I am really looking forward to this," Nash said.

Nash has scored at least 30 goals in seven of his nine NHL seasons. He was brought to New York for exactly that reason -- to score goals.

"I think (the Rangers) are a big, fast team, and I think I fit into that. It's going to be fun playing in the East, as well, with the rivalries, cities so close to one another. This is going to be fun," Nash said.

The Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Finals last season despite struggling to score at times. If Nash, 28, can regularly find the back of the net the 2012-13 season could indeed be fun for the Rangers.

Rick Nash Says Rangers Are 'Great Fit' For His Style

For the past 10 years, New York Rangers newly acquired forward Rick Nash has been playing for a small-market, NHL franchise in Columbus, OH. On Monday, all of that changed when he was dealt to the Big Apple in a five-player trade that placed the five-time All-Star in the big Madison Square Garden spotlight.

The new attention and high expectation, though, are a welcome to Nash who told the NY media Monday night in a conference call he's excited about his new role and location.

"I am looking forward to this opportunity and being a part of something, I think, is something pretty special that's already going on with the Rangers," said Nash.

"I just thought the Rangers were perfect. They've got an amazing team already. I think it was a great fit for my style".

Nash said he believes he should fit right in with captain Ryan Callahan and Brad Richards, a player who he was teammates with on the Canadian National Team.

"This type of player doesn't become available very often," said Rangers general manager Glen Sather in the same conference call. "This is a very important deal for our hockey club."

In the end, the Rangers gave away three solid pieces to acquire Nash, but Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto believes the addition of Nash was a good one.

"Having a guy who can make plays like (Rick Nash) only makes us a more lethal team," said Del Zotto. "We are going to welcome Rick Nash into our family and hope this trade continues to take us in the right direction," (via NYR Twitter).

For the latest on the Rick Nash trade, check back to this SB Nation New York StoryStream. To discuss the trade, visit the SB Nation blog Blueshirt Banter.

Rick Nash Trade: Rangers Get Their Man -- At Their Price

Glen Sather didn't part with a single one of his "untouchable" players in acquiring superstar forward Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Rick Nash Trade Reactions: Rangers Get A Steal In Blockbuster Deal

Now that the deal between the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets is finalized, and All-Star forward Rick Nash will be a part of the Blueshirts next season, fans and experts are weighing in on the deal. Here's a bit about what they're saying. First up, the SB Nation blog Blueshirt Banter.

That's an absolutely steal on Glen Sather's part. Sather played the waiting game, and it absolutely paid off in the end. The fact that Sather was able to complete a deal without including Stepan, McDonagh, or Kreider, is easily a win-win for the Rangers. The top-six for the Rangers looks pretty lethal with Rick Nash being added to the likes of Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, and Ryan Callahan/Carl Hagelin.

The Blue Jackets' SB Nation blog, The Cannon, is not liking pieces of the deal:

I have a very hard time accepting Erixon as a piece of the deal. His pouting in Calgary gives me serious pause when it comes to how loyal he'll be to the Jackets. Dubinsky should fit in well, while Anisimov adds some size and skill up the middle. He will likely team with Derick Brassard as the team's top-six centermen.

At ProHockeyTalk.com, Mike Halford did a rundown of the immediate Twitter reactions with most favoring the Rangers in this deal.

According to CapGeek.com, the trade when it comes to money works out to be an even swap.

Meanwhile, EA Sports' NHL 2013 has already placed Nash in a Rangers jersey. Here's what he's going to look like.

via p.twimg.com

For the latest on the Rick Nash trade, check back to this SB Nation New York StoryStream. To discuss the trade, visit the SB Nation blog Blueshirt Banter.

Rick Nash Trade Details: Rangers Giving Up Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, Artem Anisimov, 1st-Round Pick

The New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets have agreed on a deal to send star forward Rick Nash to the Big Apple, and the price paid by the Blueshirts could be considered a bargain. According to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Rangers will ship out three players and first-round draft pick to the Blue Jackets, who will send Nash, minor-league defenseman Steven Delisle and a third-round draft pick.

Below are the details of the trade:

Rangers Get:

• F Rick Nash
• D Steven Delisle
• 3rd-Round Draft Selection (if Rangers make Stanley Cup Final it goes back to Jackets)
  

Blue Jackets Gets:

• LW Brandon Dubinsky
• D Tim Erixon
• C Artem Anisimov
• 1st-Round Draft Pick

Production-wise, the biggest loss for New York is the 24-year-old Anisimov, who played in 79 games and tallied 16 goals and dished out 20 assists last season. Dubinsky, 26, scored 10 goals and and totaled 34 points in 77 games, while Erixon was the Rangers' 23rd-overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft.

In return, New York acquires Nash, who's a 30-40 goal scorer and five-time All-Star.

For the latest on the Rick Nash trade, check back to this SB Nation New York StoryStream. To discuss the trade, visit the SB Nation blog Blueshirt Banter.

Rick Nash Trade: Rangers, Blue Jackets Agree On Deal -- Report

After months and months of speculation and talks, the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets have finally reached an agreement on a blockbuster trade that will send Rick Nash to the Big Apple. The news was broke by TSN's hockey insider Darren Dreger (confirmed by The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline), who tweeted the trade is being processed and involves multiple players and contracts, all of which need to be worked out before the trade is called into the league.

The news comes as a bit of a surprise, as the latest update on a possible trade for Nash suggested the two teams were too far apart on a deal. Obviously, talks between the Blue Jackets and Ranger have continued and finally worked out and finalized this morning when Nash approved the deal.

Dreger is reporting one of the players is not Derek Stepan, but rather Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a first-round pick are involved, as is Artem Anisimov says TSN's Bob McKenzie.

For the latest on the Rick Nash trade, check back to this SB Nation New York StoryStream. To discuss the trade, visit the SB Nation blog Blueshirt Banter.

Rick Nash Rumors: Columbus' Asking Price Not Dropping

The NHL offseason is dragging on, the New York Rangers still need to add scoring and the price for Columbus Blue Jackets star forward Rich Nash continues to be insanely high. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson wants "some NHL forwards back first and foremost." [via Pro Hockey Talk]

"I have a value that I've placed on Rick and that our whole organization has placed on Rick," Howson said. "He's an elite player, he's been a tremendous ambassador for our franchise and our city and we're very comfortable with the value we've placed on him and until we get that value, we're going to keep working away at it."

SB Nation's Blueshirt Banter termed Howson's asking price "ridiculous."

Writes the Banter's Bryan Winters:

"Nash is a proven 30-40 goal scorer and all of that jazz, but just image the impact it would have on any team that were to acquire his services. They're not looking for your typical third line players, all of your prospects, or boat loads of draft picks, they want youth that can provide a spark right now. Just imagine giving up half, if not, your entire second line to get Rick Nash. What did it really fix? Sure you added your goal scorer, but look at the other holes that were just busted wide open after the trade went down."

Rick Nash Trade Rumors 2012: Trade Appears Unlikely To Happen Soon

The New York Rangers have been quiet since NHL Free Agency began on Sunday. As SB Nation New York hockey writer Jimmy Hascup pointed out earlier today, that was to be expected.

Hascup wrote that the Rangers "most substantial pieces will be brought in via the trade route."

Which brings us to the ongoing trade speculation about Columbus Blue Jackets' star forward Rick Nash.

The field of suitors appears to be narrowing for Nash, and the Rangers are major players on the short list of potential landing spots for the high-scoring forward.

This, however, looks like it might take a while to come to a conclusion. The Blue Jackets are asking a steep bounty for Nash, and according to a quote in The Sporting News it looks like Columbus general manager Scott Howson is perfectly willing to let this pot boil for a while.

"I wish I had the crystal ball. I really don't know," Howson said. "I think in free agency now, that's where teams' attention is. We'll figure out after the chips fall if there's something there that would make sense for us."

According to multiple reports the Rangers are unwilling to deal Ryan McDonagh, Chris Kreider or Derek Stepan for Nash. Columbus apparently wants one, and possibly two, of those players.

Howson and the Blue Jackets appear to be waiting out the free agent market and banking on the idea that someone will be desperate enough to give them what they desire for Nash.

Will that be the Blueshirts? Stay tuned, Rangers fans. And settle in, because this is going to take some time.

Rick Nash Rumors 2012: New York Rangers Still In Pursuit But Blue Jackets Not Close To Accepting Offer Yet, According To Report

The New York Rangers are one of at least four teams in pursuit of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash, Tim Panaccio of CSN Philly reported on Thursday night.

According to Panaccio, the Rangers join the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators and San Jose Sharks as teams that are serious in their attempts to acquire Nash.

Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson met with reporters Thursday night and said that while Nash remains a Blue Jacket for now, the trade offers are "more legitimate now" than they have been in the past.

Nash has been involved in trade rumors for quite some time. The star's agent, Joe Resnick, met with Howson Thursday.

Via CSN Philly:

"We exchanged some information," Howson said. "I prefer to keep what was said quiet. I think that is the best way to operate. It was a good meeting. It lasted almost an hour and we exchanged a lot of ideas."

Are you close to accepting an offer?

"Ahh, no," Howson replied. " ... I think a lot of things can happen between now and when the draft is over. I'm not counting on anything. Obviously, our goal is to do what is best for our hockey club."

See SB Nation's NHL Hub for coverage of the 2012 NHL Draft.

Rick Nash Trade Rumors: New York Rangers Again Reportedly In Pursuit