In the Edmonton Journal, former Columbus GM Scott Howson spoke with Jim Matheson about how he traded Rick Nash to the Rangers over the summer.
In general, Howson said that dealing Nash was “very difficult” and that Nash and his representatives were committed to keeping the list of possible destinations small.
Howson says that he would call up Glen Sather with a request and Sather would say “no.”
He wanted players like Michael Del Zotto and Derek Stepan but “settled” for Tim Erixon, Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov.
Howson also admitted that the team trading the star player never wins in this kind of trade and how in a perfect world, the compensation he would have liked for Nash would have been Ryan Callahan and Marc Staal.
Matheson notes that Glen Sather is the master of trading star players as he traded away Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Wayne Gretzky while GM in Edmonton.
He says that Sather has always maintained that the return on star players is never as high as fans think it should be and that , “it’s the best you can do at the time.”
According to Bruce Garrioch in the Ottawa Sun, the Senators offered Columbus goalie Robin Lehner, winger Nick Foligno and 2011 first round pick Mika Zibanejad for Rick Nash.
Nash refused to accept a deal to Ottawa and the Blue Jackets subsequently acquired Foligno.
Garrioch writes that the Blue Jackets accepted the Rangers package of Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first round pick because “didn’t want this to drag on any longer.”
He also notes that Scott Howson didn’t want to trade Nash to another Western Conference team and that center Joe Pavelski was a player that the Blue Jackets could have had.
Adam Rotter: To me, Howson got two good players who will help his team this coming season and a very good young defenseman in Tim Erixon. It wasn’t the “home run” he wanted to hit, which is why the media killed him, but its’ a good enough haul for a player who wanted out. Pavelski would have been a better get for them, but the idea of Columbus not wanting to keep him out West adds to the belief that the only way the Sharks were going to get Nash was if they moved Logan Couture. Same situation with the Red Wings, a division rival who made a “hell of an offer.” Howson had to hit a home run and get young stars if he had to see Nash four or six times a season.
If that trade goes through, it's a victory for Glen Sather, who didn't want to give up any player of value.— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) July 23, 2012
Howson blinked. Dubinsky and Anisimov give him the two NHL forwards he's looking for. It's fair value. Hands were tied.— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) July 23, 2012
It's not McDonagh for Gomez — or Manhattan from the Indians for $24 — but that's a heist for the Rangers.— Peter Botte (@PeterBotte) July 23, 2012
Rick Nash's legacy with the #CBJ: He played in five All-Star Games and four playoff games.— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) July 23, 2012
On Nash, Portzline wrote in early July “The sense among NHL executives is that Nash will return to his dominating ways when he gets traded, that the weight of the franchise had taken a toll on him.”
Eddie Olcyzk said of Nash “Teams should be licking their chops to get this guy in their lineup. He has a chance to be a top-three goal-scorer in the league. Somebody is going to hit a grand slam with this guy.”
Rick Nash is a physical force-he has missed just 19 gms and averaged 35 goals per yr over last 5 seasons. Ranger fans will embrace his play.— John Giannone (@jaygeemsg) July 23, 2012
Gianone adds “Just how productive is Nash? In last 5 yrs, Nash would’ve ranked 2nd, 1st, 2nd, 1st & 1st on NYR in goals. And that was with bad CBJ teams.”
The Rangers have traded Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Rick Nash.
The Rangers are also going to receive a third round pick and a minor league defenseman.
Brandon Dubinsky tweets “I would like to thank all of my fans and the city of New York for everything! My 8 years being part of the NYR have been magical. Thank you!”
Mike Rupp tweets “All the best to @BDubi17 a true gamer! Never takes a night off! #soldier”
Mike Rupp tweets “@Anisimov42 great cellies! enjoyed getting to ya bud!”
Mike Rupp tweets “Future 1st rounder… No face to go with you, but I’m sure you will be swell!”
Good luck @Anisimov42 @BDubi17 and Timmy! Dubi, I'll never forget our first preseason lunch at Applebees 7 years ago.. Who knew..#Rookieyear— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist30) July 23, 2012
3:58PM: The Rangers have sent through their press release announcing the deal.
3:40PM: McKenzie tweets that the deal is official and breaks down as:
Rangers acquire: Rick Nash, Steve Delisle and a conditional third round pick. (Pick goes back to CBJ if the Rangers make the Stanley Cup Final)
Columbus acquires: Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon and a first round pick.
3:37PM: Dreger tweets “Howson managed this trade his way, but the components of this deal were availabe at the deadline and again at the Draft.”
3:33PM: Portzline notes that the defenseman the Rangers acquired is Steve Delisle. He is 22, a former fourth round pick, and played 38 games in the ECHL last season.
According to Larry Brooks in the NY Post, Scott Howson is demanding Derek Stepan in a deal for Rick Nash and Glen Sather still refuses to include Stepan in any deal.
Brooks writes “ This isn’t just a measure of Stepan’s value as a player straight-up against Nash’s value. It is a measure of Stepan’s value carrying an $875,000 cap hit without the possibility of salary arbitration on at least his next contract against Nash’s value carrying a $7.8 million cap hit through 2017-18.”
In the Columbus Dispatch, Aaron Portzline writes of one benefit that Shea Weber signing an offer sheet with the Flyers may have on Columbus and Rick Nash.
He writes, “Weber’s possible landing in the Atlantic Division could be good news for GM Scott Howson, who has waited — and waited — for something to stoke the New York Rangers to action.”
7:17AM: According to Larry Brooks in the NY Post, the Rangers continue to hold Derek Stepan as an untouchable player and won’t include him in any deal for Rick Nash.
Brooks notes that along with the Rangers, the Red Wings are the only team right now that is interested in acquiring Nash.
The Red Wings reportedly made a “hell of an offer” to Columbus but didn’t get anywhere.
Brooks writes that Scott Howson is hoping that Shea Weber going to the Flyers will help him create “leverage” against the Rangers in a deal for Nash.
In the Edmonton Journal, former Columbus GM Scott Howson spoke with Jim Matheson about how he traded Rick Nash to the Rangers over the summer.
According to Larry Brooks in the 
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7:17AM: According to Larry Brooks in the 
