Expect trade talks to heat up with Rick Nash once Zach Parise is off the free agent market. NHL teams that are interested in Nash will look at Parise as he will not cost them any players, only money. However, only one team can sign the Devils star so look for the Blue Jackets to be busy once Parise is off the market.

Philadelphia Flyers are talking with the Columbus Blue Jackets about the possibility of acquiring Rick Nash. The Blue Jackets are looking for at least one of Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier, which the Flyers might see as a non-starter. The Blue Jackets are likely to hold firm until Zach Parise signs. However, if they don't get an offer they like after the Parise signing, then they might finally lower their asking price.

Don't expect Rick Nash to get traded this weekend. The Columbus Blue Jackets will probably have to wait for the dust to settle on the free agency period before teams start looking towards Nash again. The recently said that they're even willing to trade him to a Central Division rival, although there's been no indication that they've backed down from their high asking price of one current NHL player, two top-tier prospects, and a draft pick.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are open to trading Rick Nash to a Central Division rival. That might not be a popular move, but it looks like the Blue Jackets' biggest concern is finding a team that's willing to meet their high asking price. Detroit might have interest in Nash if they lose out on Zach Parise, but it's not clear if they'd be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to pry Nash away from Columbus.

Although Ottawa seems to be very interested in Rick Nash, it remains to be seen if he's willing to play with them. Ottawa is reportedly not on Nash's list of teams he's willing to accept a trade from. That means that Nash might exercise his no-trade clause if Columbus attempts to send him to Ottawa. Either way, a Nash trade does not appear to be imminent.

It looks like Rick Nash probably won't be traded until July at the earliest. With the NHL Entry Draft over, teams interested in Nash will probably turn their attention to the upcoming free agent market. If they can get Zach Parise, then that would be preferable to meeting Columbus' demands. However, once Parise has signed - either with a new club or the New Jersey Devils - then the teams that missed out on the Parise sweepstakes with give Nash another look.

Don't expect the Boston Bruins to acquire Rick Nash. Columbus reportedly wants two of Tyler Seguin, Dougie Hamilton or Milan Lucic for Nash, in addition to some picks and prospects. That's not likely to fly with the Boston Bruins. Unless the Blue Jackets are willing to lower their demands, it's entirely possible that Nash will still be playing for Columbus when the 2012-13 campaign starts.

After trading for Sergei Bobrovsky, Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson reiterated that no team has come close to offering enough for Rick Nash. "They have a ways to go yet," Howson said. If the Blue Jackets can't trade Nash on Friday, then a deal probably won't get done until July. After the NHL Entry Draft, teams interested in Nash will probably wait to see if they can sign potential unrestricted free agent Zach Parise before trying to meet Howson's demands.

GM Scott Howson says that he is not close at this time to dealing Rick Nash. Nash asked the Blue Jackets in January for a trade out of Columbus but the team is in no hurry to trade the winger as they obviously want to create as big a trade market for him as possible. Nash has a no-trade contract and has given Howson a list of teams that he will accept a trade to, but apparently Howson is talking to everyone. It appears unlikely that Nash will be dealt tonight, but all it takes is one desperate team and everything could change.

From what he's heard, Sharks beat writer David Pollak says there have been no Rick Nash-related trade talks between the Sharks and the Blue Jackets. Rumors circulated earlier in the night that the Sharks (along with the Senators) were the teams most interested in the power foward, but the Sharks don't appear to be one of those teams -- at least at this instant. Columbus still is demanding 23-year-old Logan Couture, whom the Sharks don't want to move. "No counter-porposal, period," Pollak said.