The Ottawa Senators are believed to be in the mix for Rick Nash. Multiple sources have have reported that Senators GM Bryan Murray has held talks with Columbus regarding Nash and some have gone as far as to say what Ottawa appears to be willing to give up. The Senators' package is rumored to include prospect Mika Zibanejad, winger Nick Foligno and goaltender Ben Bishop. They certainly have the organizational assets to go after Nash if they choose, so their inclusion into the auction for Nash's services is intriguing.

Rick Nash appears to be unlikely to end up in Toronto, according to Damien Cox of the Toronto Star. He says that the Leafs believe that they are not on the winger's short list anymore and the club has apparently moved on to seeking other trade possibilities with other players. Several teams are interested in Nash's services and this report doesn't mean that Toronto is completely out of the picture.

The Carolina Hurricanes have been cited as a potential contender for Rick Nash's services. Nash and Eric Staal would be an interesting combination. The Hurricanes also have plenty of cap space, so Nash's $7.8 million annual cap hit wouldn't be too big of a problem. That being said, Nash has the right to veto any trade and while he does want to leave Columbus, he might not be too eager to join another franchise that has struggled to make the playoffs in recent years.

Although there's plenty of teams that should be interested in Rick Nash's services, the Detroit Red Wings aren't likely to be one of them. The Red Wings have the cap space to spare, but they will probably bulk at the high price the Columbus Blue Jackets are seeking for Nash. Additionally, the Blue Jackets might be reluctant to send their superstar to a division rival. From Detroit's perspective, it would probably be more effective to just gamble on the unrestricted free agent market, which might be headlined by Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that as many as seven teams have already had "significant" trade talks regarding Rick Nash. Nash made it clear at the February trade deadline that he wanted out of Columbus and it appears that may happen as early as next week when the NHL holds its entry draft in Pittsburgh. It seems that the New York Rangers are the front runners at this time but while there may be seven teams holding serious talks (reportedly including Carolina, Philadelphia, San Jose and Toronto), another three or four have inquired as to the potential cost of Nash. Nash is a goal scorer, albeit with a hefty contract, but anyone close to winning the Cup could use the extra scoring that Nash will provide to take them over the top. Stay tuned.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson said that there hasn't been much movement on the Rick Nash trade front since deadline day. He said that the team has talked about their captain's future with the organization, but was unwilling to discuss those conversations in detail. "We've had discussions. I've talked to his agent, but those discussions will remain private and confidential," Howson said. "What I will say is we're looking to improve our team in any way possible and no player would be untouchable." The trade talks should heat up again around the draft next week.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have reportedly been contacted about the possibility of a Rick Nash deal from teams that aren't on Nash's preferred list of destinations. Nash has a no-trade clause, so he has a lot of control over the situation. However, he does really want to leave Columbus and the Blue Jackets reach an agreement with a team not on his list, Nash might agree to the trade anyways.

If Rick Nash is dealt this month, Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Post Dispatch has compiled a list of likely destinations. Portzline's list in order is as follows: 1. Rangers 2. Sharks 3. Maple Leafs 4. Bruins 5. Hurricanes 6. Capitals. He also doesn't believe that any deal will absolutely involve a goaltender coming to Columbus. This should get interesting and we will keep you up to date on all the Nash trade talk, which is sure to increase as we draw nearer to the NHL entry draft.

We should start to hear fresh news and rumors from the Rick Nash trade front in the coming weeks. The Blue Jackets were unable to get what they wanted for Nash at the trade deadline, but there's a good chance he'll be dealt just before or during the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Columbus will probably seek a combination of established veterans and prospects in exchange for Nash, but his $7.8 million annual cap hit as well as some uncertainty about what the 2012-13 cap will be after the NHL and players' union agree on a new CBA might hurt his market value.

Don't expect a decision to be made on Blue Jackets interim head coach Todd Richards for at least another week. The NHL-worst Blue Jackets finished with a 29-46-7 record and went 18-21-2 under 45-year-old Richards. It appears that general manager Scott Howson wants to see what goes on early in the playoffs before making any sort of decision, though. Columbus has made the playoffs in one of its 11 seasons.