Columbus trades Nash to Rangers for 3 players

Associated Press

columbus

The wait to land in a new city and with a new team is over for Rick Nash. Finally, after months of speculation, the high-scoring forward was dealt on Monday. And the destination was not a surprise.

He’s gone from Blue Jacket to Blueshirt.

“There was a lot of limbo for sure,” Nash said. “It was a tough period. The good thing now is it’s over and I can look forward to next year.”

Nash was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the New York Rangers for three players and a first-round draft pick.

The All-Star, who first went to Columbus management in January and asked to be dealt, heads to Manhattan in exchange for forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov along with defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round draft pick in 2013.

Nash, at 28, is the oldest of the players in the deal, and was shipped along with a third-round pick and a minor-league defenseman to the Rangers, who can use offense.

Nash is a former NHL goal-scoring champion, who has never played for a contender, but could blossom under the bright lights of the big city.

“We’re happy to have a five-time All-Star on our team and a 40-goal scorer,” said New York general manager Glen Sather, who was also happy he didn’t have to break up the young core of his team any more than he did.

“He will help us immensely.”