Surging Rangers extend East lead with shutout

Would you mess with the rolling Rangers' chemistry right now?

That is the question GM Glen Sather must address as he approaches the Feb. 27 trade deadline, with the Blueshirts continuing to pull away in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 outclassing of the defending-champion Bruins on Tuesday in Boston.

Still, there are reports everywhere that the Rangers have held discussions with Columbus for on-the-block sniper Rick Nash, who has scored between 27 and 41 goals in each of the past seven seasons.

The New York Daily News reported a Rangers scout was in attendance in Minnesota to watch the 27-year-old winger when the Blue Jackets faced the Wild. The New York Post reported Columbus' "opening asking price" for Nash was a package involving popular forward Brandon Dubinsky, college prospect Chris Kreider and a first-round draft pick.

Sather has done enough finagling of the roster the past few seasons -- including sending high-priced veterans Wade Redden and Sean Avery to AHL Connecticut -- to clear enough cap space to acquire the likes of Nash, who has a no-move clause in a contract that counts $7.8 million per season against the salary cap.

The dilemma for the Rangers is how much adding a star player like Nash will disrupt the unmistakable chemistry they have developed while posting the best record in the East, with a 37-13-5 mark entering Thursday's home game against Chicago. With their win Tuesday in Boston, the Rangers opened their conference lead to nine points over the Bruins and moved 10 points ahead of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in the Atlantic Division.

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