NHL News: Maple Leafs acquire Riley Nash from Blue Jackets; and the Islanders in on Taylor Hall
Anthony Scultore
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded for Riley Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets. Toronto sends back a conditional seventh round selection in 2022. This is a solid bottom six pickup for the Leafs eventual playoff run.
Maple Leafs acquire Riley Nash
Per the team website:
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced today that the hockey club has acquired forward Riley Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional seventh round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft. The seventh round selection will become a sixth round selection if Nash appears in 25 percent of the Maple Leafs’ playoff games in 2021.
Nash, 31, has appeared in 37 games with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season and recorded a pair of goals and five assists. In 578 career NHL regular season games between Carolina, Columbus and Boston, he has recorded 172 points (63 goals, 109 assists), while adding two goals and six assists in 32 career Stanley Cup playoff games.
Toronto is leveraging LTIR with Nash who is out with a lower-body injury. He will be a UFA at the end of the season.
Islanders looking at Taylor Hall
Taylor Hall is still sitting at home waiting for a trade. The Sabres have opted to scratch him in order to protect against injury. As the talk heats up around him, the latest rumor is that the two sides could be working a potential trade and sign scenario.
However, according to Darren Dreger he believes Lou Lamoriello may not be done after acquiring Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac. “The Islanders were in pretty heavy on Taylor Hall,” he said. “There are some out there who believe that maybe Lou Lamoriello isn’t done and he circles back on Taylor Hall and the Buffalo Sabres, so it’s a developing story.”
This is an interesting development, but my hunch is that the ship has sailed here. The Oilers, Panthers, and Bruins are my favorites to land him at the moment.