Twelve months ago the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Rangers made a blockbuster deal involving Rick Nash, but no one could have predicted the divergent paths each franchise has traveled on since the trade was consummated.
When a superstar leaves for greener pastures, the franchise is usually doomed (see LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers). That didn’t happen with Rick Nash, and his old squad actually got better following the trade.
As soon as the trade was official, pundits were heralding the Rangers by becoming a top Stanley Cup contender. The Rangers were considered a powerhouse on paper, and fans drooled over potential line combinations.
A line of Rick Nash, Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik was something that seemed to only be possible in the confines of a video game.
It was about to become a reality because of the trade, and everyone thought it was only a matter of time before they set the league on fire, but that reality never materialized.
Instead, the Rangers struggled, and the lowly Blue Jackets rose from the ashes and appeared to be the team that was in control al ...
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Article written by Tom Urtz Jr.
Rangers and Blue Jackets on Unexpected Paths 1 Year After Rick Nash Blockbuster
July 23rd, 2013 by Tom Urtz Jr. Leave a reply »
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