Rumor: Two big names with heavy contracts rumored to be on the trading block.

The New York Rangers are coming off another relatively successful season, but one that again saw them fall short of their ultimate goal, winning a Stanley Cup Championship.As a result there have long been rumors regarding what general manager Jeff Gorton would do this summer, especially when you factor in losing a player the likes of Keith Yandle noticeably weakening your roster, a roster that already wasn't strong enough to win it all.

It sounds like the Rangers may be contemplating some kind of minor rebuild, or a retooling process of some kind, and in fact according to Jimmy Murphy the Rangers have floated the idea of trading both forwards Derek Stepan and Rick Nash. An NHL source informed Murphy that the Rangers were trying to move both players but did not reveal who they were in talks with.

In a recent report for the New York Post insider Larry Brooks speculated that the difficulty in making a deal work for the Rangers is their reluctance to trade Stepan and the lack of perceived value on the market for Nash, although it may very well be the price tags both men carry as well. If the Rangers really wanted to get a deal done for Nash you have to imagine they could, but it may simply be that they value the player, even with his massive contract, more than they value the return they are being offered. Brooks also expressed concern that the Rangers may be overvaluing the players they are floating as trade bait:

The critical question: Are the Rangers overvaluing their players or is the rest of the league undervaluing them?

As stated above Murphy's source did not mention what teams the Rangers were speaking to, but rumors have circulated suggesting that the St. Louis Blues could have interest in Nash.

[pub]