2012 NHL Trade Deadline: Rick Nash To The Buffalo Sabres Makes Sense For Neither

by Zachary Zielonka on Feb 15, 2012 10:00 AM EST

As the trade deadline gets closer and closer, trade rumors get even crazier. With the recent news that Columbus forward Rick Nash is on the market, every Tom, Dick and Harry is coming up with a way to get the prized forward to their team. That includes Sabres fans trying to get in on the action.

Rick Nash has been apart of the Columbus Blue Jackets for his entire career. In 648 career games, Nash has 277 goals and 527 points. He has two 40 goal seasons and never scored more than 79 points in a season. He has a cap hit of $7.9 million that would last for the next six seasons and a no movement clause for the first three of those years and a no trade clause for the other three years.

It is pretty much a certainty that Nash will not be a Blue Jacket by the end of the season. As much as Sabres fans would be salivating over the fact that he might come to Buffalo, does it make sense for either side for a trade to work? We take a look at why neither side should be interested in making a deal work.

Why Rick Nash Wouldn't Work For Buffalo

The Buffalo Sabres have had one glaring need since the start of the season and that comes at center. The current roster has Derek Roy as the first center, Tyler Ennis as the second center, and Paul Gaustad as our third center. Unless Rick Nash is suddenly going to convert into a center, how exactly would he help this situation?

Nash is a high quality scorer that would bring more finish to the Sabres roster, but he also needs to be fed the puck more often than not. The one thing that Columbus has always been looking for is a quality center that would play with him to be able to feed him the puck. In the Sabres roster, they already have a player that fits Nash's qualities in Thomas Vanek. While it would be nice to say that the Sabres have two lines with dynamic scoring wingers, there aren't enough quality centers on this roster to be able to maximize their talents.

The salary cap hit is another major issue that the Sabres would have to get around as well. Currently, the Sabres have $3.5 million in cap space with Jochen Hecht on Long Term Injured Reserve. If Hecht were to return at some point in the season, that cap space becomes non-existent. That means for a deal to work, the Sabres will have to send almost equal value in cap space to Columbus as well. Some proposals that have been floated have included sending Derek Roy and Drew Stafford which doesn't make much sense because it further exasperates the center issue on this team. Another deal people want to see is Ryan Miller for Nash, which would be a fantastic deal if you thought that Jhonas Enroth was the solution for future, but one that I wouldn't see either team make.

Why Rick Nash Wouldn't Want To Come To Buffalo

Rick Nash has a no-movement clause in his contract in which he has to present a list of teams that he would accept a trade to. Does anyone really believe that Buffalo is going to be on that short list? Yes, I am aware that this is "Hockey Heaven" and that the new upgrades to the locker room and the overall player experience in Buffalo has improved since Terry Pegula took over, but one year does not change that much in perception among players in the league. Buffalo still has a negative reputation that is going to take a few years to break before high quality talent is going to be breaking down the door.

Nash is going to want to go to a contender now and the Sabres aren't that team. Sitting 14 points ahead of the current team that he plays for is not an enticing thought. Thoughts of playing for the Maple Leafs, the Rangers, the Flyers, or the Red Wings are more appealing to a player that holds all of the cards in this deal.

While visions of goal scorers dance through Sabres fans heads in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline, sometimes those visions are just wild pipe dreams. In the case of Rick Nash, that much is true as well.

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Comments

Good call. I think the past two games are dipping the Sabres into sell-territory anyway.

by silvermike on Feb 15, 2012 10:50 AM EST reply actions

The flip side is this. The Sabres need proven goal scorers. He is one. I don’t disagree as a whole, but I don’t think it is a matter of simply: “He’s not a center, so no”. By the way….what is his cap hit?

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Feb 15, 2012 11:26 AM EST reply actions

Also, I realize that “He’s not a center” wasn’t your only argument. But it is an argument I’ve heard made by some in the past few days. I’m just saying, it’s not that easy IMO.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Feb 15, 2012 11:27 AM EST up reply actions

I don't think he is a good fit for us.

He is like Vanek, which would be really nice to have if we had a plethora of distributing pivots on our team (like SJ or Boston). His cap number would also be the largest on this team; I really don’t want to say he is “overpaid”, but I would much rather have two forwards or D-men in the $4 million dollar range than one forward at ~%8 million. His offensive statistics are not that impressive for his cap hit, and I personally have never been that impressed with what he could offer to a team.

I would even say that acquiring him would be a step backwards, since we would have to give up two of our top-six forwards (maybe value wise it is too much, but cap wise that would roughly be the cost). So in general:

- Too high of cap hit for too long of time
- No centers in our system to distribute the puck to him
- Trade would need to be cap for cap

So IMO, I don’t think he fits here.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Feb 15, 2012 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

One thing that Nash has pretty much proven over the course of his career

is that he can be very, very good without a proven distributing center. Having two wingers like Vanek and Nash on the #1 and #2 lines can mitigate problems elsewhere. That said, the cost to acquire him and the payroll-inflexibility he’d bring is what would be prohibitive about the situation.

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2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Feb 15, 2012 3:32 PM EST up reply actions

Good point.

I still want player’s like him to have a distributing center to work with…I personally feel someone like Nash or Vanek is almost wasting their time on a team that cannot offer them such talent. That thought seems to contradict how Vanek played last season without Roy, but that idea pops into my head when I see a player like Nash on a team like CBJ. May I possibly undervalue Nash because his point totals don’t match his big contract? That could definitely be true. May I think that a solid pivot would improve his point totals? Yes…but I don’t have stats to back up that claim.

Damn me being subjective.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Feb 15, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions

He has a cap hit of $7.9 million that would last for the next six seasons and a no movement clause for the first three of those years and a no trade clause for the other three years.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Feb 15, 2012 11:41 AM EST up reply actions

Wait, was that seriously in the article the whole time….b/c I read through it once and looked back through twice before I typed that…….

Oops.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you sireric for bringing the furious punching cat back into my life. - poz

by bluecollarbuffalo on Feb 16, 2012 7:39 AM EST up reply actions

This happens :).

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Feb 16, 2012 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

very good read

"Will&Work2Win"coach Karma420

by Blood, sweat & Win on Feb 15, 2012 11:40 AM EST reply actions

No Way

The Sabres are going to trade for Nash, Getzlaf and Patrick Kane. Then they’ll add on Stamkos, Malkin and Shea Weber for good measure. They’ll win the cup next year.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 11:53 AM EST reply actions

This happens when:

- The CBA allows for a year with no salary cap
- Black is allowed to write the CBA, where he does some tricky/sneaky lawyer stuff that allows Buffalo to raid other teams in exchange for future draft picks and/or players we deem have little value

In this scenario, I would also acquire Datsyuk as a third line center due to his wonderful two way play. He can center Poms and Vanek, where Vanek will have a year like 2006-2007. We could also jump into our DeLorean and bring back an early 80s Gretzky to captain the squad. The fabric of time and space may rip, but I am more than willing to take that chance in order to win a Cup.

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Feb 15, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

I’ll go a step further – Ted Black uses the time machine to hire Jesus Christ as GM/head trainer and Muhammad as head coach.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 12:20 PM EST up reply actions

I second this proposal.

Time for a vote.

"WE’RE SUPER FREAKY" – STEVIE J
The Bills are like your parents. You can’t choose them, and no matter how much they disappoint you, and no matter how much you want to hate them, you simply love them. - BuffaloOwdaTwnr

by BigBlkGr8Dane on Feb 15, 2012 12:52 PM EST up reply actions

This team desperately needs good value.

Aside from Myers, everybody on this team is performing either at or below their pay level. Tho most successful teams have players that are bargains for what they do. The sabres have one player whose play is greater than his paycheck- that is not good and it needs to change. Selling off prospects who have the potential to be bargain players next year and the year after in order to bring in a goal scorer who is payed like an elite player pretty much erases any hope this team has of adding any real value. Its a stupid idea and thankfully, would never happen in the first place because of our cap situation.

by lgbfromoregon on Feb 15, 2012 12:13 PM EST reply actions

What player is most underperforming on their contract? Leino? Stafford?

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

without doing any statistical analysis and just going off what I see

I’d say Stafford. At his pay rate he should have around 20 goals right now and be a poor man’s Nash. Although I’m pretty sure Leino is paid more I’m willing to give him more leeway than stafford because it’s his first year in the system and I didn’t expect him to produce as much as Stafford in the regluar season. His playoff production was his big selling point for me, unfortunately this year he may not get the chance to show it.

by lgbfromoregon on Feb 15, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

actually I completely forgot about Boyes

It’s him, without a doubt. The fact that I forgot he was on the team is probably all that needs to be said.

by lgbfromoregon on Feb 15, 2012 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

The good thing about him though is that he’s a UFA. Stafford just got a new contract. I’m still optimistic he could be moved, but I’m not sure how much return there could be.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 12:36 PM EST up reply actions

I want to like Stafford

The word is that he has some family issues going on, so I honestly feel bad for the guy. I think he tries but unfortunately he’s a one trick pony with his drive to the net from the outside and other teams have caught on. I have hope that he can come out renewed next year and turn things around, but this year is looking like a lost cause for him.

by lgbfromoregon on Feb 15, 2012 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

Who doesn’t have family problems, a professional has to put them aside and concentrate his responsibilties to this cleints. I know he is just a kid, but he has to grow up fast.

by Geolover on Feb 15, 2012 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Wow, just wow...

That’s some of the coldest **** I’ve seen on this site.

by BigBlkGr8Dane on Feb 15, 2012 3:34 PM EST up reply actions

It’s not that cold. When you become a pro athlete they give you a new brain to handle things that most ‘normies’ cant. It’s why pro athletes have a much lower occurance of mental issues. They just seem to have issues when they retire because of the stress of dealing with the general population.

Also, please check out my craigslist posting for ocean front properties in Arizona. Great deals, but cash only.

I fight with psychological warfare, I made her a Sabres fan…

by VFN FTW on Feb 15, 2012 3:44 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Hi,

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Geolrge

by lassathrax on Feb 15, 2012 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Beauty!

/stand
/slowclap
/end

I fight with psychological warfare, I made her a Sabres fan…

by VFN FTW on Feb 15, 2012 4:23 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I wonder what family issues. Not to pry or anything, just surprised. He doesn’t have a wife and kids so I can only presume it’s with his parents/siblings.
This was supposed to be the year because he had intensified his workout in the offseason (as Sabres videos told us) and was doing Bikram Yoga. I really want to like Stafford too. I think he’s funny and smart. He just looks lost out there and I wonder if his contract could better be spent elsewhere.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

I think Lindy forgot he was on the team as well

It is no secret that I am not a Lindy Ruff fan. Boyes has been playing on a line with Kaleta and Gaustad. How is that utilizing his talents? Boyes is a guy that will not make others around him better but he can find the back of the net when given the opportunity. That opportunity has not been there for him this season.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com - An SB nation destination for Sabres fans everywhere

by David Oleksy on Feb 15, 2012 2:52 PM EST up reply actions

There's only room for so many people on the top-2 lines.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Feb 15, 2012 3:38 PM EST up reply actions

This.

…Is also why do not need more wingers.

by lassathrax on Feb 15, 2012 4:16 PM EST up reply actions

I see both sides

From what I can see, I think Boyes is a great depth winger to have. They have not played him as such. He has been played alternatively as a center or a grinder. He’s shown some ability, but I don’t think it’s being used right.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 4:18 PM EST up reply actions

The invisible duo: Stafford and Roy.

by Binthet on Feb 15, 2012 12:31 PM EST up reply actions

(side note: our best players last season)

by lassathrax on Feb 15, 2012 4:17 PM EST up reply actions

Myers!

What makes you think “give the puck away Myers” is playing at his pay level. Most of the season all he has done has given the puck away. When wasn’t doing that he wasn’t hitting, shooting or protecting his goalie. He is just as much and underperformer as the other you mentioned. There is a difference, however, I think he will improve with time: The others, except for Leino, are hopeless.

by Geolover on Feb 15, 2012 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

His current cap hit is 1.3 mil and he leads the team in ice time most nights.

Thats good value.

by lgbfromoregon on Feb 15, 2012 1:27 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

So will he be good value next year at 5.5?

by Frank Reich Revolution on Feb 16, 2012 9:31 AM EST up reply actions

if he continues to improve

then his pay rate will be accurate, IMO. When/if he gets as good as we all think he can be, he’ll be a bargain at 5.5. Whether or not that will happen next year remains to be seen.

by lgbfromoregon on Feb 16, 2012 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

Nyet

Nash is not coming to Buffalo. What player of high caliber would want to come to a team comprised of second-rate players – most of who belong in the AHL. The myth that the Sabres have a great farm system was exposed this year when players such as Adam, Kassian and Foligno were brought up from Rochester and failed to make the grade when our regulars were injured.

The Sabres are in shambles and a rebuilding program must begin now. At least two-thirds of the current roster needs to be replaced within the next two seasons. We have a world class goalie, but still need a reliable backup. We need centers: Roy is passe, Ennis is too tiny and Gaustad can’t score. We need a couple of large, hard-charging, fast-skating forwards: Vanek and Pommer are our only consistent serious threats, Stafford is a huge disappointment.

Some fans are quick to blame Ruff for the poor performance of this staff, but the onus is on the players to implement his system. The system worked well with previous teams when Drury and Briere were playing for the Sabres.

If there is blame to be assigned then it should go to Regier. He is the one who drafted the current roster. What he has drafted are players who are highly successful in the AHL, but inadequate when elevated to the NHL. In other words, he is a poor judge of NHL-quality talent.

by Geolover on Feb 15, 2012 1:04 PM EST reply actions

I was wondering when you’d be getting around to irrationally hating Jhonas Enroth.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t hate Enroth, he just doesn’t make as a goalie in the NHL. Why do think Ruff has kept him on the bench for the month or so?

by Geolover on Feb 15, 2012 5:28 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe because Miller has been playing well and Ruff knows if they have any chance, he needs Miller to be playing well and in a groove. It was not due to Enroth’s play, which was the only reason they were in some of the games they were in before that.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 6:16 PM EST up reply actions

The myth that the Sabres have a great farm system was exposed this year when players such as Adam, Kassian and Foligno were brought up from Rochester and failed to make the grade when our regulars were injured.

Because making the NHL All-Star game is failing to make the grade. I understand that the ASG is a joke, but Adam being chosen is a complement to his play in the beginning of the seaon. The other two you mentioned are fresh out of the OHL, which is a junior league. Making that leap to the NHL has got to come with a steep learning curve, and considering ZACH KASSIAN has been called up multiple times shows that he has promise. Foligno played 1 or 2 games, hardly a large enough sample to say he “didn’t make the grade”.

by Binthet on Feb 15, 2012 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

I'll bite

The myth that the Sabres have a great farm system was exposed this year when players such as Adam, Kassian and Foligno were brought up from Rochester and failed to make the grade when our regulars were injured.

Go on, make my day.. tell me which teams this year have had three or more callups from the AHL and have ‘made the grade’.. according to you?

Smile.. tomorrow will be worse

by Calvin on Feb 15, 2012 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

I hear the Islanders are loaded with scorers.

by Binthet on Feb 15, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 3 recs

They’d better be when they’re letting in 5 goals a night.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 2:05 PM EST up reply actions

They are when they play the Sabres!

by Geolover on Feb 15, 2012 5:23 PM EST up reply actions

Pittsburgh didn’t do bad, did they?

by Geolover on Feb 15, 2012 5:24 PM EST up reply actions

Evgeni Malkin.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Feb 15, 2012 6:29 PM EST up reply actions

I’ve seen you respond this way before…

"We’re gonna win the Stanley Cup. Then, you know what, we’re gonna win it again,"
-Terry Pegula

by bgred105 on Feb 15, 2012 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t even know why I’m replying because it’s Geo, but Pittsburgh has outstanding depth. They may not be flashy but they’ve got a lot of effort guys who are having career years because they needed to step up and did.

by Philaster on Feb 15, 2012 7:02 PM EST up reply actions

Because he keeps asking the same question.

Save Jenrry Mejia!
2012 Amazin' Avenue Offseason Plan: 2nd place

by Ogre39666 on Feb 15, 2012 7:19 PM EST up reply actions

Rick Nash plays for the worst team in the NHL, and still puts up great numbers. If he played with some more talented players, he could easily be a perennial 100-point guy.

by mxsd on Feb 16, 2012 11:10 AM EST reply actions

No Nash... but how about some Carter?

I mean, seriously, the Blue Jackets are looking to move Jeff Carter, too. He plays center is 6’2" and 200 lbs. He has several 30+ goal seasons and is still in mid-20s. He’s been a colossal bust in Columbus (as has Mike Richards in LA, but all Sabres fans shout at Darcy about how we missed out on both of these guys this past summer). I know Carter has been hurt, so he belongs in Buffalo where he’ll be allowed to rationalize his $5.2+ million dollar per year salary for his shortcomings. I mean, afterall, don’t blame it on the alcohol… blame it on the injuries. It’s so unfair that the Sabres get hurt, no other team in the league has to deal with such an incredible obstacle! Oh, maybe most other teams are simply tough enough to play through their boo boos? I’m not talking about the concussions, but the beauty of this whole upper body / lower body injury crap… nobody in the public really knows if it’s a legit injury or if the guy is just banged up a little. I have a hard time believing that all the Sabres hurt this year had the type of injury that other players don’t play through. I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt I guess, but their toughness must be awfully sneaky because I don’t see it on the ice either. Back to Carter, I think the guy felt sorry for himself because he had to play in Columbus instead of Philly this year and his attitude destroyed his season. That being said, the guy is a pretty darn good player, has been through the playoffs, has size, youth, talent and is available… likely for less now than Columbus paid to acquire him. Not to mention, he may be able to rejuvenate Leino… if we can’t sucker Columbus into taking him as part of the deal in return?

DC Chocolate City!

by djc1877 on Feb 18, 2012 1:55 PM EST reply actions