Rick Nash Trade Rumors: San Jose Sharks Involved In Talks With The Blue Jackets

Add another team to the Rick Nash trade discussions. The San Jose Sharks are interested in the Columbus Blue Jackets captain and, according to TSN, they're expected to stay interested until Monday's trade deadline. Via Darren Dreger:

The San Jose Sharks are emerging as a strong contender for Rick Nash. Sources say Columbus initially targeted Logan Couture, but was quickly told that was a non-starter. But, make no mistake, San Jose will stay in the mix until Monday's deadline.

It makes sense that Doug Wilson isn't willing to give up Couture, just as it makes sense that Scott Howson would go after Couture, a Calder Trophy candidate just a year ago.

Dreger reports that the Sharks would prefer an offseason deal, which also makes sense to a certain extent for Howson and the Blue Jackets considering the market in general could have more of an appetite for Nash in the summer. Wilson is still interested, however, and the temptation of Nash on a line with Joe Thornton in the upcoming playoffs could be too much to resist.

If a trade happens though, Sharks blog Fear The Fin doesn't want to see Joe Pavelski go the other way.

In essence, he's a player who gives you immense value in all three situations-- even strength, power play, penalty kill-- and has a game that transitions extremely well into the postseason when quality of competition picks up and teams begin to throw numerous looks your way. There's nothing here not to like, too much here not to love, and his affordable contract (right there with Marc-Edouard Vlasic's for best on the team) is something that magnifies that ten fold.

Nash doesn't get you that bang for the buck even if he's a more talented player than Pavelski.

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