Rick Nash trade: one year later

[Mayor Bee]

It was one year ago today that Rick Nash (and Steven Delisle, and a 3rd-rounder that became Pavel Buchnevich) was traded to New York for a package of Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and a 1st-rounder that became Kerby Rychel.

I won't go too into anywhere close to the detail that I normally would, mostly because I'm on a "quit talking about the prior regime" warning, so I'll keep it short.

Despite the loss of first-line scoring punch, and despite the perception that Columbus got absolutely hosed on the deal, this was the move that signaled the end of what one person has called "the Cult of 61". Besides the massive boost to system depth that the deal provided, it signaled a dramatic change in the way that the organization would be run from top to bottom. In a relatively short period of time, the idea that anything that took place had to go through #61 was expunged for all time, and some serious steel was shoved into the collective spine of the team.

What are everyone else's thoughts on the trade, now that it's one year later?

Click to read more...

 

[stevo61]

It was one year ago today that Rick Nash (and Steven Delisle, and a 3rd-rounder that became Pavel Buchnevich) was traded to New York for a package of Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon, and a 1st-rounder that became Kerby Rychel.

I won't go too into anywhere close to the detail that I normally would, mostly because I'm on a "quit talking about the prior regime" warning, so I'll keep it short.

Despite the loss of first-line scoring punch, and despite the perception that Columbus got absolutely hosed on the deal, this was the move that signaled the end of what one person has called "the Cult of 61". Besides the massive boost to system depth that the deal provided, it signaled a dramatic change in the way that the organization would be run from top to bottom. In a relatively short period of time, the idea that anything that took place had to go through #61 was expunged for all time, and some serious steel was shoved into the collective spine of the team.

What are everyone else's thoughts on the trade, now that it's one year later?

Loved the trade then and love it more now. We were always a 1 man team not even a 1 line team for a lot of years for the most part. It gave us a lot of depth and a lot of character in 1 move. It showed the whole team they were gonna have to work from now on and not be guarenteed anything. We didnt really lose many goals, we lost a gamebreaker yes but we get goals spread out from 2 lines all while being more defensive. Our first turned into a pretty good prospect aswell giving us a player we need more of. The Rangers actually got someone that i was surprised lasted that long and could be a real big offensive player, a real swing for the fences pick. Both teams are happy with the trade but in all honesty I believe it helped us out more and was really another big step in being the type of team we wanted to be and have a real identity.

 

[NotWendell]

“This is a disaster for the CBJ,†said former Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean, who now works for Canadian TV network Sportsnet.

If you want to see a disaster for the CBJ, just look in the mirror.

 

[IBleedUnionBlue]

It was a great trade. Unfortunately, I think we gave the Rangers too much back in return for Gaborik which in effect equaled the trade out.

 

[Skraut]

It was a great trade. Unfortunately, I think we gave the Rangers too much back in return for Gaborik which in effect equaled the trade out.

Pretty much this.

 

[1857 Howitzer]

I was fine with the return at the time and as time goes on I like it even more.

 

[blahblah]

Despite the loss of first-line scoring punch, and despite the perception that Columbus got absolutely hosed on the deal,

The latter certainly wasn't a vast majority, as far as I remember. I remember many saying that was too steep a price for Nash.

I had indicated before we even re-signed him that he wasn't as critical to the Jackets future as was being thrown around. Both on-ice and financial. As some will recall I actually called for him to be moved before the big contract. He wasn't under a NTC clause at the time and who knows what the trade could have been had we moved him prior to the last season before his first UFA deal.

As far as the Gaborik deal, the only part of that deal that gives me pause is Moore and, honestly, that we had the depth. It was time for Brassard to move on, we weren't likely to sign him to another extension and he never really got it going in Columbus. If he does well in NY, good for him but I don't think Columbus was a good fit for him.

I was Nash luck, personally, even if I can't wish his team success.

Frankly, Dougie was right to a certain extent. The whole situation was a disaster. It should never have gotten to where it did. I don't think that is how he meant it, however.

 

[Skraut]

I join in the Portzline ribbing as much as many around here, but I still remember his comment.

"The Jackets will be good when Rick Nash is no longer the best player on the team."

It didn't come true in the same way he expected, but it does feel like it is coming true.

 

[Cyclones Rock]

It's an interesting topic.
Here's some basic breakdowns of the trade:

Player Scoring:

Nash 44GP 21 g 21 a 42 points

Dubinsky 29 GP 2g 18a 20 points
Asinimov 25GP 11 7a 18 points
Erixon 31GP 0g 5a 5pts

Columbus totals 13g 30a 43 points.

Salaries this season (2013-14):

Nash $7.8m

Dubinski $4.2m
Asinimov $3.3m
Erixon $.9m plus possible $900k bonuses

Columbus totals $8.4m plus perhaps .9m= $9.3m

None of the pieces came close to replacing Nash's production, but the sum of the parts did. For an additional $1.5m/year, two extra quality players are on the roster which isn't insignificant given the salary cap-especially in light of the unpredictable dramatic bump in Bob's compensation. Had Nash not been traded, most likely Gaborik and/or Horton wouldn't be on the team.


Given that the Jackets had their 2nd best season ever with the 3 pieces obtained in the deal and Nash had a poor post season, it's probably fair to say that the Jackets "won" the deal in its first year.

The impact of the Jacket's pick from the deal (Kerby Rychel) won't be known for years to come.

It was a deal which had to happen. Nash wanted out and the CBJ were the laughing stock of the league. The risk in trading him really wasn't what one generally associates with parting with a "franchise player". Given that Nash only gave Howson a few teams for which he would play, he severely limited the former GMs leverage.

Because it appears that the Jackets appear to be on the cusp of being a legitimate playoff team with each of the new pieces playing a major part and all three appearing to have realistic upside to the their games (while Nash doesn't) plus the recent first round pick, I would be very surprised if this trade doesn't go down as a fairly big winner for the Jackets when a more complete evaluation can be made a few years down the road and all the implications of the trade are factored into that evaluation.

Former GMSH did a very good job given that his hand was basically forced and that he had limited options. It was the type of scenario where a GM could have beeen fleeced pretty badly with a combination of draft picks and never-gonna-be "prospects" or over-the-hill veterans and Howson was not. At the end of the day, the Nash trade "opened up" the roster for the Jackets and really caused the long overdue makeover of the team. So, in many ways, regardless of the performances of Dubs, AA or Erixon, the Nash deal caused/forced the break up of hockey's worst team. That in itself almost guarantees that the trade will have to be considered a winner long term.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

It was a great trade. Unfortunately, I think we gave the Rangers too much back in return for Gaborik which in effect equaled the trade out.

Bang on, although we'll see how everyone does in a ful lseason.

Would do the Nash trade 10/10 times.

 

[pete goegan]

Despite the loss of first-line scoring punch, and despite the perception that Columbus got absolutely hosed on the deal, this was the move that signaled the end of what one person has called "the Cult of 61". Besides the massive boost to system depth that the deal provided, it signaled a dramatic change in the way that the organization would be run from top to bottom. In a relatively short period of time, the idea that anything that took place had to go through #61 was expunged for all time, and some serious steel was shoved into the collective spine of the team.

I think there's a lot of validity to this.

Former GMSH did a very good job given that his hand was basically forced and that he had limited options. It was the type of scenario where a GM could have beeen fleeced pretty badly with a combination of draft picks and never-gonna-be "prospects" or over-the-hill veterans and Howson was not. At the end of the day, the Nash trade "opened up" the roster for the Jackets and really caused the long overdue makeover of the team.

I agree that Howson made the best of his limited options; unfortunately, one of the reasons his moves were so limited was his choice to reveal Nash's request to be traded. That was vindictive and unnecessary.

As I've said, I like what we got for Rick and I'm pleased with where we are. Too bad it didn't work out otherwise, his skills would fit in very nicely on this squad! Gaborik was a good pickup, especially considering only one piece that went the Rangers way had a future of any kind here. I'm quite optimistic about the direction in which this team is moving.

 

[Samkow]

At the time, I thought it would be viewed as a Thornton esque trade,a move that, while for a bad return, would prove to be beneficial to the club in the long term because it forced them to go in a different direction. So basically, it was an automatic win for the Jackets in my mind, no matter what the return was.

At some point, the phrase "we're better off without Rick Nash than with him" would be obvious to everybody. Never would I have thought that point would come less than a year into the trade.

So I'm at an 8/10 on the happiness scale regarding this trade.

 

[blahblah]

I join in the Portzline ribbing as much as many around here, but I still remember his comment.

"The Jackets will be good when Rick Nash is no longer the best player on the team."

It didn't come true in the same way he expected, but it does feel like it is coming true.

I don't think I was the first to say it (that would be insanely arrogant), but I said that looooong before AP caught wind of it. I only bring it up because it was not an original thought on his part, it had caught traction. Especially around here, a good year before he first said it.

 

[major major]

It's an interesting topic.
Here's some basic breakdowns of the trade:

Player Scoring:

Nash 44GP 21 g 21 a 42 points

Dubinsky 29 GP 2g 18a 20 points
Asinimov 25GP 11 7a 18 points
Erixon 31GP 0g 5a 5pts

Columbus totals 13g 30a 43 points.

Salaries this season (2013-14):

Nash $7.8m

Dubinski $4.2m
Asinimov $3.3m
Erixon $.9m plus possible $900k bonuses

Columbus totals $8.4m plus perhaps .9m= $9.3m

None of the pieces came close to replacing Nash's production, but the sum of the parts did. For an additional $1.5m/year, two extra quality players are on the roster which isn't insignificant given the salary cap-especially in light of the unpredictable dramatic bump in Bob's compensation. Had Nash not been traded, most likely Gaborik and/or Horton wouldn't be on the team.


Given that the Jackets had their 2nd best season ever with the 3 pieces obtained in the deal and Nash had a poor post season, it's probably fair to say that the Jackets "won" the deal in its first year.

The impact of the Jacket's pick from the deal (Kerby Rychel) won't be known for years to come.

It was a deal which had to happen. Nash wanted out and the CBJ were the laughing stock of the league. The risk in trading him really wasn't what one generally associates with parting with a "franchise player". Given that Nash only gave Howson a few teams for which he would play, he severely limited the former GMs leverage.

Because it appears that the Jackets appear to be on the cusp of being a legitimate playoff team with each of the new pieces playing a major part and all three appearing to have realistic upside to the their games (while Nash doesn't) plus the recent first round pick, I would be very surprised if this trade doesn't go down as a fairly big winner for the Jackets when a more complete evaluation can be made a few years down the road and all the implications of the trade are factored into that evaluation.

Former GMSH did a very good job given that his hand was basically forced and that he had limited options. It was the type of scenario where a GM could have beeen fleeced pretty badly with a combination of draft picks and never-gonna-be "prospects" or over-the-hill veterans and Howson was not. At the end of the day, the Nash trade "opened up" the roster for the Jackets and really caused the long overdue makeover of the team. So, in many ways, regardless of the performances of Dubs, AA or Erixon, the Nash deal caused/forced the break up of hockey's worst team. That in itself almost guarantees that the trade will have to be considered a winner long term.

35 gp for Arty IIRC.

I think we/Howson fleeced the Rangers.

 

[Socks]

We got Dubi (who I'd long coveted), Arty (that backhand!) and Timmay!Erixon (on his way to being studly) for a guy who didn't want to be here. Not to mention Kerby who I kind of think is awesome. I love the trade.

 

[CBJx614]

Terrible trade considering we could have gotten Anisimov in the expansion draft!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_NHL_Expansion_Draft

 

[CBJWerenski8]

I absolutely hated the trade at first. But I think it was more scared that it would become a Kovalchuk situation where we get a whole bunch of meh players for a superstar. And when it happened, thats immediately what I thought. I thought Dubi and AA were 3rd liners, I thought Erixon would request out or get burred behind other defenseman on our team, and I thought we would blow the first round pick or it would be 29th or 30th.

I was very wrong. And thank god I am

 

[General Jacket70]

At the time, I thought it would be viewed as a Thornton esque trade,a move that, while for a bad return, would prove to be beneficial to the club in the long term because it forced them to go into a direction. So basically, it was an automatic win for the Jackets in my mind, no matter what the return was.

At some point, the phrase "we're better off without Rick Nash than with him" would be obvious to everybody. Never would I have thought that point would come less than a year into the trade.

So I'm at an 8/10 on the happiness scale regarding this trade.

I'm with you on this one.

 

[The Press Express]

It was a great trade. Unfortunately, I think we gave the Rangers too much back in return for Gaborik which in effect equaled the trade out.

Ahh Not too much, just unneeded depth. It was a Quantity for quality, We have Dubi, Arty, Letestu and Jenner clogging up the Center and a slew of defenseman, I thought both deals were steals for us.

 

[EspenK]

I like the trade then and I like it now and hopefully will like it even more down the road.

As to the Gabby trade, my God people-we gave up one of our 34 centers (and one who most here at one time or another wished him gone), a penalty prone agitator and one of many D prospects and one who for whatever reason didn't seem to be as high up the chart as people here think he should have been. In return we received a potential 30 + goal scorer, which last time I looked we didn't have too many of.

Both were great trades.

 

[BluejacketNut]

I still would have preferred to of had Davidson make the decision if Nash stayed or not. If he came in and said we needed to trade him, I would have been onboard. But I did not like letting Howson, who would eventually be gone 6 months later, trade the best asset the team had

 

[thebus2288*]

Liked the trade when it happened without watching Dubi n AA on a nightly basis. Love it now after watching these guys play in just a short season. Still not sold on Erixon and really thought NY would struggle after the trade and we'd get a higher pick, but I really like Rychel(why does nobody talk about his shot). So without going on about how I think Artem is gonna be a top 15 2-way center in a couple years, we got a full solid 2nd line for Nash at the very least. And we were clearly a better team, even before Gaborik and Horton. The Gaborik trade I was more shocked than anything...just a weird situation overall really.

 

[FlaggerX]

I'm not going to take the time to look it up, but last year I went on record saying we'd get the production we lost from Nash back by committee, and the additional depth would help in ways that wouldn't show up on the stat shat. That wasn't counting on much from Erixon last year, and without knowing who that #1 pick would turn into, but I liked the trade then and like it even more now. Bob was a lot, but not the only reason we were stouter defensively last year than this one. We had good play from all four lines, solid checking, good depth and a team that played like they wanted to win. Erixon proved he can play and should be a quality 2nd/3rd pairing guy in the NHL for a long time. With Murray coming (I still think he starts the year in Springfield, our blue line should get even better. I regard the trade a fine deal without considering Rychel. Anything he brings now is just a bonus.

So two big thumbs up for Scott Howson, how got us a darned good deal.

BTW, I do not agree that we overpaid for Gaborik, who is true scorer. They don't come cheap. Brass never really blossomed here, Dorse was a fine player who I will always like for his effort but he's more a 4th liner on this team and he was hurt when trade. John Moore may end up being the guy we miss most but he was caught in a logjam here and wasn't playing much. We got the scorer we need without really giving up much that hurt us. So that was a decent deal too.

It's been a good year to be a CBJ fan.

 

[Timeless Winter]

Love the Nash trade, then we acquire another lazy winger not much later in Gaborik. So that hurts the good feelings a little.

 

[major major]

Terrible trade considering we could have gotten Anisimov in the expansion draft!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_NHL_Expansion_Draft

What? When he was 10 years old? Someone fix the wiki.