Why the Ottawa Senators should avoid Rick Nash
Sometimes, as human beings, we like to let a good story get in the way of facts.
Sometimes, as human beings, we like to let a good story get in the way of facts.
Here’s a story for you: Rick Nash is a Canadian hero, always willing to step up for his country in international play. As a result, he has helped deliver world championships and an Olympic gold medal to Canada. Too bad he plays in that hockey backwater, Columbus, with such terrible teammates.
Hey, wait a second. What if he came to the Ottawa Senators? Yeah! He could play with Jason Spezza and go back to being a 40-goal scorer! Maybe even nab 100 points! Then the Senators would win the Stanley Cup! Hooray!
What started as a throwaway aside from a radio colour man in Columbus has turned into full-blown Rick Nash mania here in the capital. The thought of getting THAT Rick Nash, the big, 40-goal power forward who can lead a team to glory seems to have everyone in a tizzy. And every fan is entitled to his or her opinion.
Here’s mine — The Senators should avoid Rick Nash like the plague. This isn’t an indictment of Nash — not in the least. He’s still a very good player. He’s just one Ottawa probably isn’t, and shouldn’t be, pursuing. Here’s why:
1. As I understand it, Nash has given the Blue Jackets a list of teams he would be willing to go to. Ottawa is not on that list.
2. The Blue Jackets are reportedly asking for two roster players and two prospects for Nash in a prospective trade, a completely delusional and outlandish price.
3. Time and again, Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has said he will eschew any team-building strategy that involves bringing in pricey talent, and especially in cases where said talent is acquired by shipping out assets or young players. Here’s a quote from Menlyk from an interview I did with him in March, so three months ago:
“You can spend to the cap — it’s very easy. Any idiot can do that. The really elite teams are the ones that can (put in) elite management and elite coaching, that can put a competitive team on the ice year-after-year, and not have to buy that team.
“They can do it through internal growth. And that’s the sign of a really elite group. And that’s what we want to be.”
So we already know that, philosophically, the team doesn’t want to go there. Rick Nash is 28 years old and last scored 40 goals three years ago. He also has a cap hit of $7.8 million until 2018 (!). Not only that, in real dollars his take goes up as he gets older (he’ll be due $8.2 million during the 2017-2018 season, when he’s in his mid-30s. Oh, and he’s a power forward, playing a style that isn’t exactly easy on the body.
Melnyk is also about to shell out around $7 million per season to retain the services of defenceman Erik Karlsson. Think he’d be thrilled about adding Nash’s salary to the mix?
4. Rick Nash’s production is going down. Nash has scored 40 goals twice, once in 2003-2004, and the last time in 2008-2009. Since then, he has scored 33, 32, and 30 goals. His drop off in points follows the same path: 79 in ’08-’09, then 67, 66, and 59.
I’ve heard the argument time and again that the problem with Nash is he’s surrounded by lousy teammates in Columbus and that, with a centre like Jason Spezza, he would return to his former glory. Well, the last time Nash scored 40 goals, the top-scoring centre on the Blue Jackets was R.J. Umberger, who notched 46 points (or one less than Nick Foligno put up this season).
So if he is in fact still the player many think he is, why hasn’t he been able to not only match his previous production, but build on it as he played through his prime, his mid-20s?
5. Here’s the most important fact in my mind: The Ottawa Senators don’t need Rick Nash.
Last season, they finished fourth in the NHL in goals per game. They finished 24th in goals against per game.
If general manager Bryan Murray somehow got Melnyk’s permission to not only deal assets, but take on a big salary, he’d be better off spending it on a stud defenceman, not on a player who is being paid for the story we’ve all been told about him rather than his actual current dollar value.
Rick Nash is making Columbus money, meaning they overpaid him to play there because they wanted to retain him, keep selling (some) tickets, and not lose him to a big market team through free agency. It wouldn’t make sense to bring him in long term at that salary, AND lose high end prospects, AND effective roster players.
How do you know that Ottawa was not on his list of teams to whom he would consider being traded? To my knowledge, the teams on that list are unknown except to him, his agent and Columbus management.
Columbus won’t get the absurd asking price they are presently asking since no team (not even the Rangers) would offer up that kind of treasure. However, Nash seems determined not to stay in Columbus. If the asking price became reasonable, he seems a terrific fit for Spezza and would allow Michalek to move to the second line. Even Maclean acknowledged that they need players who can score (reliably and in the big games). They don’t need 3 top goalies and have a ton of third line talent so why not give them Bishop, Foligno, Noesen and our first round draft pick.
As for Eugene, no one knows better than he that you have to spend money to make it.
Stay away from this player.
They need this trade, alfie is leaving after the year. only real star forward is spezza. top of with spezza dishing to nash sounds pretty good to me
Rick Nash is exactly the top six power forward that we have been lacking for the last few years. Get this deal done Mr. Murray. Ottawa fans will not regret it!
Notwithstanding the many good points made by the author Ottawa needs players who lift you from your seat too….and can and do put the puck in the net. It’s why we go to the games! Thus, Rick Nash would be a welcome addition.
The truth of the matter is Spezza and Karlsson cannot carry this team, offensively speaking. And, Maclean needs more offensive weapons. Nash brings that.
Look at what we might have to give up: one of three good goalies (two of which are for the most unproven), a stutter-stepping Foligno, possibly another “player”, and an unproven draft pick.
Go for it Bryan! Draft a big D you can develop, hang on to Carkner, Smith and Zenopka (to protect your talented and developing players)…. and if you have to, give Kuba his earned money before someone else does (someone like him is going to have to mind the store while Karlssen and Spezza are busy doing their thing and giving the puck away in the process).
Being a Sens fan, this argument seems like the author is not much of a Nash fan.
#1: Ottawa has 26 million dollars in cap space right now, that’s WAY more than enough to have a player like Nash on our team.
#2: Ottawa may not be on Nash’s list, but if an offer was good to Columbus’ GM Howson, Nash would most likely willingly go to Ottawa knowing that it would help his former club.
#3: Nash had 59 points this year, yes this is one of his lowest overall amount of points in the season but that would be tied for 4th on Ottawa’s roster next to Alfredsson.
#4: If you were Columbus’ GM and one of your veteran players wanted to move, would Foligno (47 pts this season), Zibanejad (Ottawa’s first round pick last year), and Ben Bishop (2.48 GAA, .909 SV%) sound good to you? I think so.
So yea, sorry that this was a long post but hopefully it makes sense to some of you who are wondering if Ottawa’s going to go through with this. I hope Ottawa does as it would help our team produce some more points and I think Nash needs a fresh start.
I agree with the author – stay away from Nash. As tempting as this may be for Sens fans, you don’t want to mortgage your future for a player that only wants out of a bad situation (remember the mess with that princess Danny Heatley) and is not serious about wanting to come to your organization. Contrast this with Kyle Turris – he also wanted out of Phoenix but was willing to go anywhere where he was wanted and could fit in well. Ottawa got a 3rd overall pick for Rumblat and a 2nd rounder and this will work well for Ottawa in the long run.
People also need to remember that the rebuild is a painful process but you have to be patient – look at Edmonton – painful process that will likely pay big dividends.