Rick Nash is preparing for the likelihood of being traded ahead of the Feb. 26 deadline.
On Monday, he confirmed a report that the New York Rangers asked him for his 18-team no-trade list. Nash is a pending unrestricted free agent, and with the club expected to be sellers, it's likely he'll be dealt. That'll be hard for the 33-year-old veteran, especially given his 3-year-old son, McLaren, has become a huge Rangers fan.
"You think about your family and your kids and the best situation to win (a Cup)," Nash said, according to Newsday's Steve Zipay. "I have no idea how I'm going to explain to my son that he can't cheer for the Rangers, that definitely went through my head. Every time he sees a goal, he starts singing the song."
Nash admits he was surprised when the team asked him to provide his list - likely in part because the Rangers are just two points out of the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference - despite expecting he might be asked to do so.
"When I got asked, I was definitely in shock at first. You expect it's going to happen, but don't know the feeling until it actually happens when they ask you to submit a list," he said. "My one goal is to win a Cup with the Rangers and have a successful season, so it's unfortunate."
"You've got to be a professional about it ... even though it sucks, you've got to show up and put your work boots on and play for the guys in this room," he added. "I've been on the other end of this a lot of times, I've seen guys go through it, now it's my turn and it's not fun."
During his six years with the Rangers, Nash has tallied 142 goals and 249 points in 367 games. This year, he's potted 15 goals and is on pace to record 20 or more for his 13th season.
