From The Columbus Dispatch’s Puck Raker’s blog:
In exchange for Nash, the Blue Jackets have acquired forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick, according to TSN. The Blue Jackets also send a third-round pick and a minor-league defenseman to the Rangers, The Dispatch has confirmed.
So ends a saga that began in January, when Nash requested a trade, he said, after being informed by Blue Jackets management that they planned to “rebuild” the franchise, a process that can take several seasons. Management has since changed course, saying they are “reshaping” with the hope of being competitive in 2012-13.
Even though the likelihood of a Nash trade has percolated for months now, it’s a staggering day for one of the most wayward organizations in professional sports.
Link here. As hundreds of regular Dog Blog readers know well, the Columbus Blue Jackets are my team and this trade makes me very sad. But this is what happens when an NHL team’s management doesn’t take goaltending depth seriously enough. Steve Mason’s poor play ground that team into powder–it got Ken Hitchcock fired*, it cost them probably at least one playoff run and it pissed off a good fan base. If I were Rick Nash I’d have wanted out, too.
Anyway it could be worse for me. I could be a Nashville fan.
Here’s the story on CBC, TSN and Puck Daddy.
*I’ve read in the Dispatch that Mason came to camp out of shape in his sophomore year. Hitchcock wanted to send him to the minors but management over-ruled him. And lo everything went to hell. Way to go.
Still, the NYR are not a threat to the L.A. Kings.