Not great, folks.
Riley Nash has been a reliable bottom-six forward for the Blue Jackets all season, but he may have played his last game for the club. On Sunday vs. Florida, Nash suffered a sprained knee after colliding with Noel Acciari in the second period. He left the game, and would not return. The timeline for the injury is 4-6 weeks, and the Blue Jackets' final regular-season is one month and two days from now.
Nash collided with Acciari mid-ice, then headed right off the ice. https://t.co/cPhJmzk5aU pic.twitter.com/q4d7MnPW45
— Alison (@AlisonL) April 4, 2021
This hurts in more than one facet. Sure, the Blue Jackets will miss him in their lineup. The real issue, however, is that they likely won't be able to move him before the trade deadline. Nash's contract expires after this season, and it was likely that the Blue Jackets were going to acquire prospects or draft picks in exchange for Nash. Now, it's unlikely that a team will make a move for him because he likely won't return before the playoffs.
Other Blue Jackets that may be on the move are David Savard, Nick Foligno, and Michael Del Zotto. Savard is the most likely to head elsewhere, but the other two are still likely to leave as the Blue Jackets look like they'll be sellers at the deadline. The club has just three games remaining before the deadline, and it's unlikely they'll stay put.
