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5 best fits for Rick Nash in NHL free agency

By Nick McAdam

BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Rick Nash #61 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Nash
BOSTON, MA - MAY 2: Rick Nash #61 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the TD Garden on May 2, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Nash /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Members of the Colorado Avalanche salute the crowd after Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 22, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 5-0. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Members of the Colorado Avalanche salute the crowd after Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Pepsi Center on April 22, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. The Predators defeated the Avalanche 5-0. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

4. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs deserve a ton of credit after making the playoffs this season. Things were looking far downwards when Matt Duchene left for the Ottawa Senators. Add in the fact that Gabriel Landeskog was also another favorite to go, and it looked like a painful rebuild was ahead.

Yet, Joe Sakic hushed himself from the media and somehow drew all the attention away from the organization after the trade deadline. Colorado kept a steady squad in place with scoring threats, decent paced defenders and a goalie combo that helped them make the postseason.

Instead of a full tear-down, it’s looking like the Avalanche can build around a core of Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon with Tyson Barrie at the back for his prime years.

The Avalanche should have no problem negotiating with Nash and fitting him into their salary cap.

Arguably, more goal-scoring from depth players on the Avs could a drawn the attention away from the goaltending especially in the playoffs. In no way were their scoring numbers bad, but they could have used more firepower in games against the Nashville Predators.

Maybe Nash wouldn’t be winning a lot soon in Colorado, but he can certainly help develop a core that can help his Stanley Cup dreams into the future. It takes time and patience, which might be what Nash needs to understand to make himself an attractive option in free agency.

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