Nash asked for trade: Jackets

The biggest name on the National Hockey League trading block didn’t change teams Monday, but Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson revealed forward Rick Nash asked to be dealt.

Nash’s name had been circulating in rumours over the past few weeks, with teams like the New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings believed to be among those bidding for the services of the 2002 first-overall draft pick. It was thought the lastplace Jackets were the ones who wanted to cut ties with their franchise player and start a rebuilding process, but Howson said it was the other way around.

“(Nash) came to us and asked us to consider trading him,” hows on saidata news conference after the NHL’S trade deadline passed at 1 p.m. MT on Monday. “We agreed to accommodate his request as long as we could get a deal that would provideu swith corner stone pieces to help us compete for a Stanley Cup championship in the coming years. It did not happen by (one) o’clock today.”

Nash, who has played his entire nine-year career with the Blue Jackets, signed an eight-year, $62.4-million US contract extension with the team in 2009, which kicked in for the 2010-11 season and included a no movement clause. In the days leading up to Monday’s deadline, he agreed to waive the clause, but only to a select list of teams.

In 62 games this season he has 21 goals and 22 assists and is a minus-23.

The Jackets were rumoured to be looking for a roster player, a first-round draft pick and two prospects for Nash. No one was willing to pay that asking price Monday, but the Jackets could try again in the lead up to the June 22-23 NHL entry draft.

“This is too important to our franchise and our fans to do a deal that is not in our best interest,” Howson said. “We pursued a number of options, but none provided the value back that we could justify trading a player of Rick’s calibre.”