UPDATE (9:53 a.m.): The Bruins officially have acquired Rick Nash. Here are the details:
Bruins acquire Rick Nash from @NYRangers in exchange for Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, Ryan Lindgren, 2018 1st-round pick and 2019 7th-round pick: https://t.co/edXNVGxQDm
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) February 25, 2018
UPDATE (9:15 a.m.): The Bruins and Rangers have a “deal in place” to send Rick Nash to Boston, according to TSN’s Bob McKenzie. The deal is not official, but here are the details:
Not yet official yet because the trade call with NHL has not happened but BOS and NYR have a deal in place for Rick Nash. Return to NYR expected to include BOS first-round pick and prospect defenseman Ryan Lindgren, but there are other elements to the deal as well.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
NYR will be retaining 50 per cent of Nash’s remaining salary and AAV for the balance of the season. Nash, of course,is UFA on July 1.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 25, 2018
ORIGINAL STORY: The Boston Bruins reportedly are close to making a major addition to their roster.
Late in the Bruins’ controversial 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday, TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Boston was having “ongoing discussions” with the New York Rangers about trading for star winger Rick Nash. The biggest roadblock appears to be the Bruins’ ability to clear enough salary cap space to fit Nash’s $7,800,000 cap hit.
Bruins busy with the Leafs in game, but Boston definitely has interest in Rick Nash. Can they make the cap work? Ongoing discussions.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 25, 2018
Bruins and NYR still working on Nash trade. Cap related challenges. Not expected to be finalized tonight, so not done until done. #TSN https://t.co/G37rzRKRTw
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 25, 2018
The rumors only got hotter as the night wore on, though.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reported the Bruins are the “leading candidate” for Nash, and that Boston and New York have the “framework in place” for the blockbuster.
It’s unclear what the Bruins would need to part with to acquire the 33-year-old forward, but multiple reports indicate a first-round pick and a solid prospect are being discussed.
Furthermore, here are the salary challenges that the Bruins and the Rangers must overcome, per Sportsnet’s John Shannon:
Sounds like Boston needs to move salary…and have NYR retain a % of Nash's contract…plus more….for it to work for Bruins.
— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) February 25, 2018
So, why would the Bruins want to add Nash?
Although the former No. 2 overall pick certainly has regressed from being the 40-goal scorer he was earlier in his career, Nash still has an elite shot, and remains a capable goal scorer when put in the right position. Perhaps more important, however, is the Bruins’ clear need for a consistent, veteran winger to play alongside center David Krejci on the second line.
Now, would Nash alone remedy that problem? It’s tough to know for sure, but 18 goals, 10 assists and a breadth of playoff experience are nothing to snuff at.
