Is a Kevin Shattenkirk-for-Rick Nash deal a possibility? Could the Jets trade Jacob Trouba? Read on for the latest.
SHATTENKIRK-FOR-NASH A POSSIBILITY?
Could the Blues ship Kevin Shattenkirk to the Rangers for Rick Nash?
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH: In a July 29 live chat, Blues beat writer Jeremy Rutherford reported there’s nothing new on the trade front regarding defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. He noted there’s growing speculation Shattenkirk could be swapped for New York Rangers left wing Rick Nash and didn’t dismiss the possibility.
” Let’s take a quick look why: Shattenkirk is from the East Coast and would likely agree to an extension. The Rangers lost Keith Yandle this offseason and are looking to replace him. Nash and Hitchcock are familiar with each other from their days in Columbus. The Blues could use his skill and veteran experience up front. Nash does have two more years left on his deal with a cap hit of $7.8 million, and he’s actually owed $8 million and $8.2 million the next two years. The Rangers would have to retain some salary and other players would possibly be involved to help the Blues stay under the cap, but I think this is a deal that makes sense for both sides and could work.”
SPECTOR’S NOTE: I have my doubts about a Shattenkirk-for-Nash swap. At 32, his best seasons are behind him. He’s been hampered by injuries in two of the last three campaigns. Jaden Schwartz and Robby Fabbri are younger left wings who are also on the rise. Granted, they could move Fabbri back to center or shift him over to right wing. However, they also have veteran Alex Steen at left wing and Rutherford recently reported Steen is interested in re-signing a new contract (he’s a UFA next summer) before the start of this season. Nash has played right wing before, but he’d have to play on the second line behind Vladimir Tarasenko.
LATEST ON TROUBA
WINNIPEG SUN: Ken Wiebe recently states his belief the Jets defense must step up in 2016-17 if the club hopes to reach the playoffs next spring. He noted there was speculation earlier in the offseason the Jets could pursue a top-four defenseman, but there’s nowhere to put one unless the club “is unable to get a new contract done with Jacob Trouba and moves him for a package that includes a left-handed shooting blue-liner.” While Wiebe acknowledged that’s a possibility, he feels ” it seems more likely at this stage of the game that Trouba will remain in the mix, get a contract signed and start the campaign on the left side with either (Dustin) Byfuglien or Tyler Myers.
I am inclined to agree that a Nash for Shattenkirk deal wont happen. Nash has become injury prone and his best years are clearly behind him. His albatross of a contract is going to make him very difficult for the Rangers to move.
Albatross is a wee bit of an overstatement no? It’s 2 years, Nash is 32 not 42 and likely to play easily in just about every teams top 6… Even as a 25 goal 50 point 2 way forward who gets the D to back up its about what a player like that gets
Nash will be moved as some idiot GM will help out NYR just so they can get above the cap floor
It could happen if Rangers sign Vesey..They would then be really stacked at forward. (Stepan, Kreider, Miller, Zucc, Zibanejad, Hayes, Buchnevich, Grabner + Nash. Something would have to give here.. I just hope that if it happens the Rangers do not include Mcilrath in the deal…
Id love to see the Jets in the playoffs again but I dont see how it will happen. Too many teams that are clealy superior for them to get there.
I doubt that Nash for Shattenkirk has any chance.
Nash primarily plays on the rw not lw, and has since his arrival in Ny. Honestly I have no problems with NY keeping him around for the remainder of his contract. Maybe his better offensive days are behind him, maybe they’re not. He is only one year removed from a 42 goal, 69 point season. He played injured most of last season, we’ll see.
But he does do much more than just score. Probably nys best pk guy, plays in all situations. Who takes on that role… Zuccarello, Fast?
Possibly the only over-rated and under-rated player in the league. Losing Nash is losing more speed…something the Rangers continue to do
Good way of putting it.
I don’t see the Rangers moving Nash like you guys said does more than just score goals and seems to have good yr bad yr so this yr should be a bounce back
Miller, Stepan, Zuccarello, Grabner, Fast, Nash, Kreider, Zibanejad, Linberg are all great skaters, that’s 9 of their top 12 & even Tanner Glass is a great skater. Where’s all this lost speed you speak of?
While Nash does have all those attributes you mention, and hasn’t slowed down to any degree noticeable, that’s a big cap hit for any team to absorb at this stage. I agree he’ll likely play out the string on this deal with the Rangers.
I agree George & would even take it 1 step further. If Nash can’t recover his form & return to being the player he should be the there are other options as well. Being injured in 2 of the last 3 seasons has effected his value & if he can’t be moved prior to the expansion draft I would expose him & if not selected would consider buying out the final season if & when necessary again only if he doesn’t recover his form & return to being a productive Nash.
With Zibanejad, Fast, Lindberg & McIlrath all RFA’s next summer & Miller & Hayes having been bridged this season for 2 years something may still have to give cap wise in 2017-18.
Ny is not buying out Nash in his final year, that’s just crazy talk!
Depends on factors not known today. I don’t disagree with you. I stated criteria for what would have to happen for it to be so.
If he has another season like last year & they can’t move him they will have cap issues to potentially overcomhopefully he scores 30 goals & 60 points & we move on.
If the cap doesn’t go up at all, they should have 12-13 million to sign Zbad, Fast, Lindberg and Mcilrath. Lindberg and Mcilrath are probably on a do or die years. If Mcilrath does not play about half the season, he will become a group VI UFA. I see this as a VERY likely scenario given AVs lack of trust in him. Either way, not one of those names is likely to be added to the protection list. So, I see no way Gorton will buy out Nash on his final year. Maybe they try and move him at the deadline his final year and retain 1/2. But I can’t see them wasting 3.9 x 2 years of cap space to move him for no reason. They haven’t bought out any player in the cap era other than the amnesty buy outs.
They are in no way shape or form in panic mode going in to next year. Other than having to expose Klein.
Buy out 1 year on Rick Nash? Coming from the same guy that was all for trading for Erik Staal as a stroke of genius? Smh Striker come on I know I said I’d leave ya alone but seriously flip flop you were just saying how great the Rangers with Nash were set up going forward now maybe they should buy out 1 year? It makes no sense.
A week ago while he was talking about the Rangers, he had Nash and Kreider as the ” top left wing locks”!!! Nash plays on the rw in ny, and now he’s a possible buy out option in his final year!!! Aye aye aye!!!
Once again, it’s okay to say ” I don’t know”, or simply not comment at all!
He’ll probably have Ny season tickets any minute now, and have Nash in 179 of his 456, 10 million dollar fantasy leagues!
Hall, weber, sub ban will never be traded.
Day of the Hall Larsson trade,,,, Larsson “is a stud”…. One week later ….. Not so much.
Obviously an avid google guy, that sways his opinions any way the wind blows!
While Nash is no longer the scorer he once was, he is still one of the best 2-way offensive players in the league. Most fans don’t notice his contributions as all they look at are goals.
Agreed. Someone said a week or so ago here ” he’s a slow, soft lazy player” …. I think some people just asses players on offensive stat sheets rather than watching the player and what he can do with or without the puck. I’ve also seen people suggest Ny would need to absolve 1/2 his cap hit which is beyond ridiculous . While he isn’t a 7.8 per player, he is equally not a 3.9 player either.
I didn’t want Nash when the talk of him coming to NY started. But definitely a guy who I undervalued as an all around player.
I’ll honestly be happy to be “stuck with him” for 2 more years.
Marian Hossa(the past 5 year version) is a comparable player without the addition of Nash’s streaky scoring spurts.
Honestly the Blues would be a better team with Nash than with Shattenkirk. They did not replace Backes.
ooooops “assess”
SH TOI/GP last season, Fast 2:10, Moore 2:09, Stepan 1:41 & Nash 1:21. Grabner was just added & he is a penalty killing machine. That’s his area of expertise. Lead Toronto at 3:06 last season for forwards.
Nash is still a very good player who brings a lot to the table. He needs to go to a team where he doesn’t have to be the #1 forward. With the Blues, Nash wouldn’t have to be the top forward. I think that being able to play more of a supporting role would help Nash tremendously. He would add a lot of balance to the Blues forward lines.
I also think Nash would be a positive on the Blues but at what cost. He doesn’t work unless there is significant retention and Shatty is an overpayment any way you look at it. Unless something significant is added by NY, I think Nash to St Louis should be focused on deal without Shatty.
Not without a contract “Shatty” isn’t…hold salary throw in more and give up Nash for a guy who could play out a season and move on? Not happening
I agree..Let’s not give up our first rounder for this dude… I’d like to watch the draft next year and actually know the Rangers will be drafting someone for the first time in 5 years or so!! Keep Nash…
“Shatty”??? Sounds like you and he are on a personal basis. If I were him I wouldn’t want that as a nickname because one misplaced vowel conjures up a whole different assessment.
The jets have a good young team and with Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor being added to the lineup with the other young guys; Scheifele, Ehlers, Petan, Dano, Lowry and Armia this is certainly a team on the rise. The back end isn’t as impressive though. Outside Byfuglien, Myers, Trouba and Enstrom the only other main contender on the blueline is Josh Morrissey and maybe recently drafted Logan Stanely. As I been touting the Jets the next Canadian team to win the cup, I will now insert that they must now continue to develop the defense to make the next step. They’re set at forward and with Connor Hellebuyck and Eric Comrie in goal they appear to be set in nets. There is no way the jets trade Trouba unless there is a dman coming back in return. A long ways to go to make my point. I could’ve just said the jets are keeping Trouba unless they get a dman in return.
I would prefer you provide a reason. Take as long as you need. I prefer hearing a reason or opinion as opposed to, “the Jets are keeping Trouba.” It’s a discussion, debate & on occasion even an argument but generally only if people resort to personal barbs as opposed to debating the subject matter.
I agree with you. Makes no sense to move Trouba but curious to see how Winnipeg & numerous other teams are going to position themselves for the expansion draft & when. I can except losing certain players but no way some of these teams are going to let the quality of player go they are currently confronted with. There are only 6 or 7 facing losing a player I would define as unlikely, the rest are palatable, a loss but not devastating loses. Potential having to protect 8 skaters in Winnipeg to retain Buff & Enstrom; will Enstrom waive? both have NMC’s, Myers & Trouba, means Winnipeg loses a Perreault or 1 of the unprotectable kids. Platable but not ideal.
Making the playoffs in the west is no easy feat. The top 7 spots appear to be a lock. Chicago, StL, Anaheim, SJ, LA, Nashville & Dallas. The 7th spot is seriously contested by Minnesota & Colorado & Winnipeg, Edm & Arz are significantly better teams. That’s 5 teams battling it out for 1 spot & I didn’t include Calgary or Vancouver.
In the east the #8 spot was secured by default & you could argue so was the #7. As George says you have 2 more teams battling it out for 8 spots but only the top 6 look to be locks in the East & the remainder also rans 2 getting in by default.
Nash and Shattenkirk to the Leafs.
Nash, 2017, 2018 first round picks to Vancouver for Sbisa
Blues have weak wings. They could use Nash for sure.
Schwartz, Steen; could play C but historically a winger, Tarasenko, Fabri, Perron, Berglund; Could play C but historically a winger, Jaskin, Upshall, Parjarvi. That may be the best winger depth in the NHL.
StL isn’t moving Shattenkirk for Nash even if it’s a larger deal & NYR eats salary. It makes no sense for StL. They need Shattenkirk more than they need Nash. Yes Parayko is ready for more responsibility & please feel free to give him some but that doesn’t mean you can’t retain Shattenkirk. StL can make the salary work in 2017-18 following expansion if Shattenkirk actually wants to stay. That’s the real question. If he doesn’t, he will be moved for something eventually. 1 of the extenuating circumstances where this type of asset moves. He simply refuses to resign as a pending UFA, 1 year out. StL can’t afford to lose this asset for nothing like Nashville did with Suter.
StL already has 13 forwards signed & only 3 are UFA’s after next season, Steen; who will be resigned at about 6 or 6.5 mil for 5 or 6 years, Berglund & Upshall, no great loss losing either & Upshall could be retained at or near the league min if so inclined purely a depth player regardless.
StL has numerous kids ready for more responsibility. Fabri, Jaskin, & Barbashev is very close. He may be an NHL regular by the All-Star break in injuries or trades open up a line up spot. Perron was signed as a UFA for 2 years. The inn is full at forward in StL.
Schwartz, Lehtera, Tarasenko.
Steen, Stastny, Perron.
Fabri, Berglund, Jaskin.
Upshall, Brodziak, Parjarvi.
Spare. Reeves.
Move the top 9 around anyway you want. Hitchcock will. Steen can play C, Berglund LW, Perron either side. You could make an argument that there is room for another #3 RW moving Jaskin down to bump Upshall or Parjarvi & Nash could bump Perron to the #3 slot but again if your prepaired to tie up that much cash in Nash even if NYR eats some why not just reup Shattenkirk? Give him 7 or 8 years at 6.5 to 7.5. Again unless he’s simply not interested in resigning in StL.
If the cap space is to tight after resigning Steen then who would you prefer to have Shattenkirk or Bouwmeester? I think Parayko has a better chance of replacing Bouwmeester than Shattenkirk. If Boumeester isn’t tradable I’m sure Las Vegas would happily select him. Cap issue solved 1 way or the other.
What’s left on the UFA list is pretty slim and while these are regarded as the “best” available I sure wouldn’t be opening the vault for any of them. It will be interesting to see who in this group (hope I haven’t missed a signing) gets a contract or even a training camp invite. In Ottawa’s case I’d offer Russell $1.5 to $2 for one year. I doubt he gets more than that anywhere else.
Matt Cullen – C (39) 6′ 1″ 200 lbs – 16g 16a +5
Tomas Fleischmann – LW (32) 6′ 1″ 92 lbs – 14g 11a -8
Jiri Hudler – RW (32) 5′ 10″ 183 lbs – 16g 30a -1
Brandon Pirri – LW/C (25) 6′ 183 lbs – 14g 15a -4
Kyle Quincey – D (31) 6″ 2″ 216 lbs – 4g 7a +1
Kris Russell – D (29) 5′ 10″ 170 lbs – 4g 15a -5
Alex Tanguay – LW (36) 6′ 1″ 94 lbs – 8g 27a +8
Radim Vrbata – RW (35) 6′ 1″ 194 lbs – 13g 14a -30
James Wisniewski – D (32) 5′ 11″ 203 lbs – injured all last season
Dennis Seidenberg – D (34) 6′ 198 lbs – 1g 11a -1
Quick someone feed poor Fleischmann and Tanguay. 92 and 94 pounds, get those guys a steak or something stat lol.
LOL. Damned faded script an a sticky “1” does it every time.
Why wouldn’t the Blues have just re-signed David Backes if they wanted to crry a hefty contract of a long in tooth players?
Term?
It sure wouldn’t have been what Sweeney offered what an overpayment and all,around bad signing imo
The reason I didn’t put Sam Gagner on that list above is he just signed a one year deal with Columbus for a reported $650,000. Antoine Vermette can be added to the list as Arizona just placed him on unconditional waivers. It’s doubtful any one claims him so they could conceivable bring him back after the fact for a bargain-basement price.
Vermette did get 17 goals last year – wouldn’t surprise me to see Montreal offer him a one-year deal.
I saw Nash score a two man shorty a couple of years back against Calgary. One thing that can’t take is his hockey IQ ..