from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

The next time Rick Nash tells you this is the way he played last year, nod politely, move on to another subject and thank him for his time.

Because Nash, as self-effacing as he has been dominant through the season’s first 40 games, not only didn’t play this way last season, few forwards in the NHL reached the consistent level of excellence the winger has displayed on a night-in, night-out basis … last year or any year.

The 30-year-old is the NHL’s best player, a breathtaking blend of speed, power and creativity who has been worth every dime of his $7.8 million cap charge. He and Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne are the front-runners for the Hart Trophy.

Hands please, if you’d vote for sending Nash to the Blue Jackets for Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, a first-rounder and the equivalent of Tim Erixon.

continued