Rick Nash Trade Rumors: Blue Jackets Finally Place Star Forward On Market?

Is Rick Nash finally on the trade block? It appears that way, if you're to believe a report from RDS late Monday evening.

2 NHL sources told me that #bluejackets Rick Nash is on the market. Nash have a no-movement clause and will controle his destiny.

— Renaud P Lavoie (@renhockey) February 14, 2012

RDS doesn't exactly have the most stellar reputation when it comes to NHL trade rumors, but Lavoie is highly respected as a reporter -- certainly more respected than the outlet for which he writes. Then again, according to the sole reporter on the Columbus Blue Jackets' beat, general manager Scott Howson says the report is false:

#CBJ GM Scott Howson, thru spokesman, declines comment on RDS report that #CBJ captain Rick Nash is on trade block.

— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) February 14, 2012

But of course Howson says it's false. He's not going to say explicitly that the star player who's been committed to Columbus for his entire career is on the verge of being shipped out of town. Nash has a no-trade clause, so any potential deal is in his hands, but it's been reported in the past that Nash would consider a trade if he was approached about the possibility. Then, there's this:

Further to RDS story on Nash last night, sources say the Blue Jackets are open to anything that will help their team longterm.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) February 14, 2012

Would trading Nash help the Blue Jackets long-term? That clearly depends on the return coming back in the other direction, and you'd have to assume Howson would ask a King's ransom for his star player. He'd likely get that ransom, too, from a team rich in young talent trying to make a run at a Stanley Cup this season.

Hey, even if a Rick Nash trade doesn't happen, at least this deadline talk is starting to get a bit intriguing.

You can get team-by-team coverage of the 2012 NHL trade deadline from around our network of hockey blogs, with CBJ-specific coverage from The Cannon. For more on the news, rumors and speculation surrounding the trade deadline, subscribe to our StoryStream.