Nash.
For all intents and purposes, the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers swapped star wingers over two trades in the span of a year. The Rangers sent a package of players for Rick Nash in the summer of 2012. Eight months later, the Jackets sent a package of players to the Rangers for Marian Gaborik. It was rather comical, since it basically wound up being a Nash for Gaborik swap, but the other pieces turned out to be important as well.
July 24, 2012: Rangers send Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Tim Erixon, and a 2013 1st round pick to CBJ for Rick Nash, Steven Delisle, and a 2013 3rd round pick.
Starting with what the Rangers acquired, Nash has been a sore spot for people, and I don’t really see why. After putting up 21-21-42 in 44 games during the lockout shortened season, Nash suffered a pair of concussions in 2013-2014, limiting him to 65 games and a line of 26-13-39. The concussions affected his play on the ice, but Nash still managed to produce close to his career average in goals and SH%, he just did it from the perimeter instead of attacking the net. However, those issues appear to be behind him, as he has 10 goals in 12 games this year already.
Delisle never played a game for the Rangers, and was a throw-in to balance out the contracts going back and forth.
That third round pick, #75 overall, became Pavel Buchnevich. Buchnevich is one of two (Anthony Duclair) highly skilled forwards in the Rangers system. He’s a top-six forward in the making.
As for Columbus, Dubinsky appears to be the future captain of the team, but has been dealing with his own injuries.He hasn’t played this season yet, but put up 16-34-50 last year. Anisimov topped the 20-goal mark last season for CBJ, and appears to have a top-nine center role locked down with the club. Erixon finally cracked the lineup this year, playing 11 games so far with a 1-1-2 scoring line.
That first round pick was used on Kerby Rychel. Rychel just completed his OHL career and is in his first professional season with the Springfield Falcons.
April 3, 2013: Rangers send Marian Gaborik, Delisle, and Blake Parlett to CBJ for Derick Brassard, Derek Dorsett, John Moore, and a 2014 6th round pick.
This trade gets a little more complicated. First things first: Delisle and Parlett are non-factors here, sent to CBJ to balance out the contracts. Neither are with the club anymore.
After an unimpressive stint in Columbus (injuries, ineffectiveness), Gaborik was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings for Matt Frattin, a 2014 3rd round pick (which was traded to Detroit for 2014 and 2015 3rd rounders), and a 2015 2nd round pick (TBD). Frattin played four games with CBJ, and was shipped to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Jerry D’Amigo and a conditional 2015 7th round pick. D’Amigo is currently in the AHL.
The Rangers sent Dorsett to Vancouver for a 2014 3rd round pick last summer. That pick was used on Keegan Iverson. The 6th round pick acquired was used in the trade for Justin Falk, who is no longer with the Rangers.
John Moore is currently the Rangers 5D, putting up 5-17-22 in 96 games. He’s on a one-year “show-me” deal, as he hasn’t developed the way the club had hoped so far. The 23-year-old has a lot to prove.
Derick Brassard has been a great addition, putting up a 45 point year last season, and is currently on a PPG pace this year. That won’t last, but the club is counting on him being their 2C going forward. So far, he has answered the call.
Summary
To Columbus: Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Jerry D’Amigo, Tim Erixon, Kerby Rychel, Elvis Merzlikins.
To NYR: Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, John Moore, Pavel Buchnevich, Keegan Iverson.
The Rangers got the best two players in the deal, in my opinion, and have the top prospect in the deal as well. The Blue Jackets are a solidly built club, and I’m not discounting the role Dubinsky or Anisimov play for the team. They are great complimentary players, and the Nash deal certainly brought in those pieces.
That said, I believe the Rangers “won” this swap.
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