Rick Nash traded to Rangers

The Columbus Blue Jackets will trade All-Star forward Rick Nash to the New York Rangers. The Columbus Dispatch's Aaron Portzline and TSN's Darren Dreger were the first to report the trade.

[tweet https://twitter.com/Aportzline/status/227470599914680320]

[tweet https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/227470736955158528]

[tweet https://twitter.com/DarrenDreger/status/227475179461304320]

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Nash had reportedly requested a trade last January, and his name has been floated in trade rumors throughout the offseason. Columbus reportedly turned down other offers for the five-time All-Star, but many reporters on Twitter questioned how much the Blue Jackets got in return for Nash in the deal with New York.

Getting rid of Nash's contract was likely a major motivation for Columbus. Nash is through three years of an eight-year, $62.4 million contract, and the Blue Jackets will now have more flexibility.

Columbus received forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov, defenseman Tim Erixon and a first-round pick in return for Nash.