It's been at least five minutes since we wrote about Rick Nash, so we're coming back at you again. The NHL trade deadline is today (that's Monday, folks) at noon pacific, and it's going down to the wire. Trade talks may not be active right now in regards to Nash, but teams are certainly preparing offers for another go at the Columbus Blue Jackets' star forward.
There's a couple added dynamics to the trade. For one, Nash may be motivated for a trade now with the recent talks from his agent and for two, the Blue Jackets are not planning on lowering their demands for Nash, according to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch. So one side is potentially motivated while the other is motivated only if the price is right. It makes sense given the status of the Blue Jackets' front office - they're not going to let a potentially lame duck general manager sell Nash for lower than what they're absolutely secure with.
That being said, there's even more rumors about where the teams are at in their talks. Columbus' Fan 97.1 is reporting (via Jennifer Benson) that the Blue Jackets have two firm offers from the Sharks and the Toronto Maple Leafs, believed to be the only two serious contenders for Nash now that the New York Rangers appear out of the discussions. Columbus is supposedly considering both of these offers, which may or may not be last considerations before the deadline.
Lastly, there is the possibility that the Sharks' new offer could include goaltender Antti Niemi (as Fear The Fin's Matthew Taylor notes). We noted the rumors earlier today regarding Niemi and how it's a big shock he was included in trade talks for James van Riemsdyk. If he's on the table in that trade, he could be on the table in this one if the Sharks want Nash enough. All reports indicate they do.