NY Rangers: Deal for Nash on the Way?

Added by Dante Vassallo on February 25, 2012.

Talks between the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets have reportedly heated up.  The Rangers have just completed a deal that sends little used forward Woytek Wolski to Florida for defensive prospect, Michale Vernace and a third-round pick in 2013.

There was some speculation earlier in the week that Wolski would be waived, but this trade clears his salary from the books and creates a little cap space for future acquisitions.

The current deal is rumored to be Nash for Tim Erixon, a first-round pick, and choice of Michael Del Zotto or Ryan McDonagh.  This is surprisingly less than what Columbus was asking for, (Dubinsky was part of the original asking price) and if I’m Glen Sather I hope they choose Del Zotto and I take it before that price goes back up.  As much as I love MDZ, McDonagh is the more complete defenseman of the two.

The Rangers would then need to bring in a defenseman, and Anaheim’s Lubomir Visnovsky is on their radar.  I expect a combination of prospects and picks would go the other way, but no asking price has been reported.

Stay tuned.