Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rick Nash is telling close personal friends that he would not be opposed to parting ways with his current club, according to SportsNet‘s John Shannon.

Nash allegedly has become fed up with the constant rebuild happening with the Blue Jackets and wants to play on a winner. However, he will not demand a trade. He will only waive the no-trade clause in his contract if Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson approaches him to do so.

But do the Blue Jackets have any intentions in dealing their captain and the face of their franchise?

Reports by the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch and Andy Strickland of True Hockey indicate that Columbus have higher priorities that trading Nash. And that would include moving struggling forward Jeff Carter and his massive contract. There is no indication at the moment that Nash is being shopped.

In the case that the Blue Jackets put Nash on the trade block, Garrioch believes that it would take a hefty package to acquire the Olympic gold medalist: at least a top young player, a prospect and a first round draft pick.

Garrioch claims that the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers would be interested, but Nash’s $7.8 million cap hit through 2018 may be a deterrent.

One team that wouldn’t have problems accommodating Nash’s salary and cap hit, is the Toronto Maple Leafs.

And wouldn’t you know it? Nash’s name has actually been linked to the Maple Leafs, as Bob Mitchell of the Toronto Star wrote.

Internet rumors, fueled by AM 640 hockey analyst Bill Watters, ran rampant earlier this week that Nash would be heading to Toronto along with forward Kristian Huselius, in exchange for forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Nazem Kadri, and defensemen Luke Schenn and Mike Komisarek.

Those reports were quickly debunked by TSN’s Darren Dreger, who reported that Maple Leafs general manager has not had any conversations with the Blue Jackets about Nash — who was born in Brampton, Ontario, just outside of Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke.

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke tells Kevin Allen of USA Today that he will look to make additions to his team long before the February 27 trade deadline.

Whatever moves we intend to make will be in advance of the deadline because I’ve never liked the price tag at the deadline.

It’s a tactic that Burke has employed in the past — partly because he wants new players to have longer to gel with their teammates and partly due to the high number of teams chasing the same players near the deadline — and there’s no reason to believe he will try to employ again this season.

I don’t think the math ever changes. The number of teams that think they can add a piece and get there is the same every year, and the pressure on general managers remains the same.

NHL.com Senior Writer Dan Rosen and the CBC’s Elliotte Friedman both list Burke as one many general manager who will be making calls to acquire talent before the trade deadline.

Friedman reported on the January 21st edition of the Satellite Hotstove that he has made struggling forwards Mikhail Grabovski (pending unrestricted free agent) and Nikolai Kulemin (pending restricted free agent) available.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin. Photo courtesy Flick user bridgetds.

However, Burke denies that he has been shopping Grabovski or Kulemin.

We are not shopping [Grabovski or Kulemin]. We have been asked. But that is it.

Meanwhile, on a recent segment of SportsNet’s Sources Say, John Shannon reported that Leafs may feel comfortable shopping blueliners Luke Schenn, Keith Aulie, and Mike Komisarek to add some much needed help at center/forward because of their belief that minor league blueliner Korbinian Holzer would be an adequate replacement.

And If the Leafs don’t end up moving any of those three, than perhaps Holzer ends up being the one used as trade bait.

As for who they may target, Steve Buffrey of the Toronto Sun urges that Burke pulls the trigger on a trade to acquire some size and scoring to bolster the club’s forward group before their poor play continues.

Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun reports that Burke has held talk with the Anaheim Ducks about center Ryan Getzlaf. However, sources indicate that Getzlaf is no longer on the market. Fellow Duck forward Bobby Ryan doesn’t appear to be an option either, as the asking price for him is too high — two top prospects and a draft pick.

Anaheim Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf.

Toronto Star’s Damian Cox suggests that Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone would be a good fit, because of his size (6’4″, 219 lbs) and the power-forward type of game he plays.

Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ryan Malone. Photo courtesy Flick user bridgetds.

Cox cites the Lightning’s poor record this season and their financial troubles as reasons why they would move Malone. He would also not cost as much as Getzlaf in terms of both money and assets to acquire.

UPDATE: Adrain Dater of the Denver Post reports that scouts from a number of teams, including Toronto, were present at Saturday’s game in Los Angeles between the Kings game and the Colorado Avalanche. The Maple Leafs don’t play either team for the rest of the season, so let the speculation begin.