Reasons why the CBJ should keep putting Rick Nash on the ice

I've been pleasantly surprised at the feedback from the Game 63 recap, where I discussed the madness of putting Rick Nash, the Columbus Blue Jackets' mutinous captain, on the ice once both he and the Blue Jackets management decided that every effort would be made to move him to another team.  The blog comments reflect thoughtful, reasoned counter-responses to my post, and Internet chatter has been surprisingly positive once the shock of "scratching the star player" wears off.  There's been a nice, healthy undercurrent of, "I never thought about it that way, but it makes sense."  Regardless of which side you come down on in this polarizing discussion, I'm pleased to have been a part of it.

Thanks, Rick.  It's been terrific.
But you don't want to be here any more, and Columbus needs to move on.

In deference to those who don't agree with my assertion (and in preparation for tonight's Fire The Cannon podcast appearance where I'll be discussing this whole notion), I thought it would be a good exercise to summarize the points of those who disagree with my assertions in one place.  That way, you readers can consider both sides and draw your own conclusions.  Of course, I reserve the right to offer my reply to those arguments.

THE HERE AND NOW

• Nash is one of few players who can be relied upon to score.
• Nash helps the team win games right now.
• There's no need to start the rebuild now, seeing as a good portion of the roster won't be around next season, so you might as well play Nash.

DBJ's response: While Nash did score in Detroit in Game 63, the team didn't win.  And they haven't won in many games this season where he participated in the scoring column.  Besides, this season has long been declared over from a competitiveness point of view.  Winning games right now only serves to jeopardize the team's draft position.

As for holding off the rebuild until the new pieces are in place, well...we were supposed to wait for this team to gel before getting upset with the direction of this season.  How did that work out?  I'd much rather use the last 19 games to separate wheat from chaff and determine what current players will make up the new CBJ core.

THE LOCKER ROOM

• The players support Nash and want him to remain as captain.

DBJ's response: I have a feeling that the players would like Nash to stick around town, too.  But has the constant reinforcement of Columbus' "country club" image not taught us anything?  These players might think they know what's best for them and their club, but they don't.  (I'm not saying current team management does, either, but that's another story.)  If they did, they'd be winning games and competing for playoff seeding right now.  And how will new leadership emerge with Nash's shadow looming over the locker room?  Do we have to defer that portion of team evolution to keep a bunch of guys (of which we've agreed many will not return) happy?

This is what you thought you were going to get at the
start of the season.

THE FANS

• Ticket-buying fans want to see Nash play.
• "Team Nash": Fans want to support Nash in his apparent rift with team management.

DBJ's response: Of all the "keep Nash on the ice" arguments, perhaps the "fans want to see Nash play" is the most persuasive.  People did buy tickets and ticket packages thinking they were going to see Nash.  (They also thought that they were going to get a full season of a productive Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski, but that's again another story.)  Lord knows the hockey is going to be rough in the short- to mid-term once he's gone, so why not delay the inevitable?  At the same time, don't you think that Blue Jackets fans would enjoy consistently winning hockey more?  (And the Team Nash stuff is cute, but that overlooks the fact that both Nash and CBJ management are at fault in getting the team to its current state.)

INJURY RISK

• Nash will surely recover from all but the most severe of injuries in plenty of time.  Won't affect his trade value.
• The likelihood of a debilitating injury like a severe concussion is minimal. 

DBJ's response: Dang, you guys like playing with fire.

FRICKIN' NINJAS

• Scott Howson never intended to trade Nash but instead used Nash as lure to move Jeff Carter out the door with all due haste.  Carter's now gone, so full speed ahead.
• Nash might even be in on the scheme.

DBJ's response: If this truly is the case, I would be stunned.  As in, this:

But hey, anything's possible with this team.

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As I said, draw your own conclusions. I just can't see how playing Nash at this point in the season, under the team's current circumstances, makes any sense.