Rangers sit Nash amid reported trade talks

The New York Rangers are making sure a couple of their potential trade commodities stay healthy through Thursday night's action.

Rick Nash and Michael Grabner will be held out against the Montreal Canadiens, as first reported by the Brett Cyrgalis of the New York Post.

Trade talks for both forwards were "inching closer to completion," but a source told Cyrgalis that nothing seemed imminent just before game time.

Grabner is a pending unrestricted free agent who's scored 25 goals in 59 games this season, and he carries a team-friendly $1.65-million cap hit.

Action was reportedly picking up on the Grabner front Thursday, as TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported earlier in the day.

Nash is also a pending UFA, but his cap hit is $7.8 million. The 33-year-old has 18 goals in 60 contests.