The San Jose Sharks have contacted Columbus about forward Rick Nash and are becoming a strong contender to land the Blue Jackets captain, reports TSN’s Darren Dreger.

The Sharks, as Mark Purdy of the Mercury News wrote recently, are in need of a veteran top-six forward that can provide offense with consistency. Nash is among a number of players that would fit the bill, however, Purdy points out that his $7.8 million cap hit through 2018 and Columbus’ asking price may be a make the Sharks turn their attentions elsewhere.

San Jose Sharks forward Logan Couture. Photo courtesy Flickr user Dinur.

According to Dreger, the Sharks balked at requests from the Blue Jackets that forward Logan Couture be included in any deal for Nash. Couture, along with forward Joe Pavelski Purdy says, are non-starters in any deal for Nash. Despite those players being off the table, Dreger expects the Sharks to remain in the hunt for Nash until it’s over — one way, or another.

What the Sharks have going for them is that Nash and Sharks forward Joe Thornton are long-time friends and have played well together at international tournaments, which may be one of the reasons Nash included the Sharks on his list of preferred trade destinations.

And because he’s armed with a no-trade clause, Nash can dictate where he ends up — a decision that he will have to live with for the next six-plus years of his life. Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson will have to accommodate Nash if the club is serious about dealing their franchise player.

Meanwhile, Howson told Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch that he doesn’t have a trade to make yet, but negotiations with clubs are progressing along.

We’re waiting for the right deals. We’re getting closer. But we’re not there yet.

The Los Angeles Kings will only consider trading defenseman Jack Johnson if a premier forward is coming back their way, reports the panel on SportsNet’s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker segment.

The Kings are desperate for a major first-line scoring threat off the wing, and Kings general manager Dean Lombardi made it really clear to Craig Custance of ESPN that he’s well aware of it.

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist when you’re last in the league in scoring.

Pierre LeBrun of ESPN reports that Johnson is one of a couple of roster players — along with back up goalie Jonathan Bernier — the Kings will make available in a trade for an impact forward. LeBrun has confirmation (LeBrun) from “a few” unnamed “team executives” on that front.

Speculation is that the Kings will pursue Blue Jackets captain Rick Nash, and Johnson and Bernier would be part of the package offered to — or asked by — Columbus. Nash would be exactly the type of player the Kings need, and he has already given the Blue Jackets consent to a deal to Los Angeles, as reported by Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

If a deal for Nash doesn’t materialize, SportsNet hockey analyst Doug MacLean stated that Johnson would not be in play for Jeff Carter, another Blue Jackets forward on the block and supposed trade target of the Kings.

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter.

Other teams mentioned as possible destinations by the HockeyCentral panel include the Edmonton Oilers (although it’s hard to see which forward they would be willing to part with), New Jersey Devils (who desperately need blueline help), and the Philadelphia Flyers (who have a lot of great forward assets).

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Toronto Star and SportsNet hockey analyst Damien Cox reported Wednesday night that Rick Nash has included the Toronto Maple Leafs on his short list of teams he would allow the Columbus Blue Jackets to trade him to.

Cox previously wrote that Nash would fill the Maple Leafs’ need for top-six forward with size that can add some offensive punch to their attack. Sure, he’s not the center that the Maple Leafs covet, but it’s not secret that Toronto general manager Brian Burke loves big, skilled power-forwards like Nash.

The Maple Leafs aren’t the only team Nash is interested in relocating to, however. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch lists the Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, and San Jose Sharks alongside the Maple Leafs as teams that Nash has approved.

Portzline also reports that the cost to acquire Nash is a young roster player and a “combination of top prospects and quality draft picks.” Based on that, Portzline concludes that the Rangers have the inside edge, with the Kings a close second.

Apparently, the Blue Jackets have coveted Rangers’ forward Brandon Dubinsky for years, and New York has a number of young players such as blueliners Michael Del Zotto, Ryan McDonagh and Tim Erixon, and forward Chris Kreider. Mike Zeisberger of the Toronto Sun also adds that the Rangers have about $7.0 million of cap space heading into the deadline, possibly giving them an edge over other teams.

New York Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky. Photo courtesy Flickr user bridgetds.

Meanwhile, the Kings have a top goaltending prospect Jonathan Bernier to offer up, along with defenseman Jack Johnson as Zeisberger notes.

So what would it take the Maple Leafs to land Nash?

Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner.

Zeisberger believes that Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson would surely ask for rookie defenseman Jake Gardiner as part of a package — one that would include at least three or four top prospects, young players and/or draft picks — from the Maple Leafs.

Aside from Gardiner, the Maple Leafs could offer a combination of roster players such as forwards Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin, and defensemen Carl Gunnarsson, Luke Schenn, and Cody Franson and prospects like forwards Nzem Kadri and Joe Colborne, and blueliners Keith Aulie and Korbinian Holzer.

But would Burke make such an investment? Zeisberger suggests that Burke wouldn’t want to completely sell the farm. Though that doesn’t necessarily mean he couldn’t get a deal done. Elliotte Friedman of CBC points out that Burke is a creative deal maker and who is know to have the ability to pull of complicated trades that require some degree of finesse.

If they were to acquire Nash, the Maple Leafs Maple Leafs would also face some cap issues. Toronto is already up against the cap, so they would have to do some juggling to fit Nash’s $7.8 million cap hit — which he carries for the next eight years.

Renaud Lavoie of RDS reported Monday that the Columbus Blue Jackets have made forward Rick Nash available for trade.

Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday that the Blue Jackets have informed a number of teams Nash was up for grabs — though not at the player’s behest. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun was also able to confirm that the Blue Jackets have become more open with the idea of moving Nash.

All reports appear to indicate that Nash has not requested a trade, however. Apparently, it was Blue Jackets management and ownership, during a meeting last week discussing the club’s future, who decided that the possibility of trading Nash needed to be explored.

Howson told NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor Adam Kimelman Saturday that the club has a plan in place for this season and beyond.

I’m not going to disclose what we’re going to do, but we certainly have a plan in place. We’re working on it, we’re talking to teams. We’ll see… it’s not just a pre-deadline plan. It’s a plan leading up to the draft and leading into next season. We’ll see what happens before the 27th and we expect to be active.

Even considering trading Nash would be a drastic change in philosophy for the club, as it has constantly denied any plans to part ways with Nash whenever rumors popped up. While rumors have been swirling around the struggling Blue Jackets, Portzline claims that Nash’s name wasn’t even brought up in any trade talks Howson may have had with his colleagues. General managers were well aware that the Canadian Olympian was off limits.

When asked to clarify his stance on the manner, Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was evasive but did not deny the club may attempt to move their captain.

We’re open to all options to try to improve the team. As far as rumors go, we’re just not going to comment.

Since Nash has a no-movement clause in his contract, the club cannot deal him without his permission. So, according to Portzline, the Blue Jackets approached Nash and his agent Joe Resnick to inform them of their decision. TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s reports his sources indicate that Nash has given his blessing and would consider a trade — on his terms, of course.

During an interview with Portzline last week, Nash didn’t sound like he would stand in the way of the Blue Jackets trading him.

I love Columbus. I love being here. I love being a Blue Jacket. The city of Columbus deserves a winner and deserves a good product on the ice. If it comes to that – like you said, all speculation – but if they don’t want me here, they want to move me? I’m not going to do something where it’s going to hurt the franchise just because I have that in my contract.

When asked today about all latest rumors of his potential departure, Nash reiterated how much he like playing and living in Columbus.

The last couple of weeks there have been so many rumors and when a team loses, more rumors keep on surfacing. That’s [all] it seems to be right now, is just rumors. I’m a Blue Jacket right now. I’ve played my whole career here and it’s a special place to me. So as of right now I’m a Blue Jacket.

However, as Dan Di Sciulloa of the Miami Herald suggests, perhaps Nash may not necessarily want to go though a rebuild with the Blue Jackets again. But as Di Sciulloa and LeBrun point out, that doesn’t necessarily mean a trade will occur before this year’s February 27 trade deadline. The Blue Jackets are not on a timeline — they can wait for the off-season to sort things out.

Stay tuned for a look at which teams may be in on the Nash sweepstakes.

While the fire sale hasn’t started just yet in Columbus, many expect that it is a matter of when not if. Forget Rick Nash and Jeff Carter, though. The overhaul of the Blue Jacket’s roster will start with forward Samuel Pahlsson, according to the SportsNet‘s HockeyCentral Trade Tracker panel.

It is widely believed — by NHL.com Senior Writer Dan Rosen, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch, and USA Today’s Kevin Allen, among others — that Pahlsson will attract much interest from playoff-bound teams looking for defensive help on their bottom-two forward lines.

Pahlsson’s size, penalty killing and faceoff abilities, as well as his leadership qualities, are a perfect mix for teams looking to add depth to their playoff rosters.

It also doesn’t hurt that he is an impending unrestricted free agent with a reasonable $2.65 million salary, and a Stanley Cup winner with the Anaheim Ducks.

And it could be that Stanley Cup ring he won in Anaheim that may bring him to Toronto, suggests SportsNet’s John Shannon.

According to Shannon, the Maple Leafs have let it be known that they are in the market for a good defensive center with strong faceoff skills. With Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke’s ties to Pahlsson from their Cup-winning days in Anaheim, it is fair to assume that he would at least investigate the possibility of bringing his former player to help his new club capture a playoff spot for the first time since the 2004-2004 season.

The SportsNet panel also indicated that the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks may also present some interest in the Swedish forward.