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Look out, Philadelphia– Paul Holmgren has a gun*.

According to multiple reports, the Flyers are very hard on Rick Nash. Howard Eskin, who has been impeccable with hockey stories over the last year, says that the team is not done and still trying very hard for Nash.

ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun says the same thing.

Both Eskin and TSN’s Darren Dreger believe that the trade could include James van Riemsdyk (more on his post-game comments about fans here) and Sergei Bobrovsky. Other names thrown out there by Dreger: Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier. 

Tim Panaccio, however, says that it is Columbus pushing Nash on the Flyers, not the other way around.

There are two sides to this coin. Side one: Trading for Rick Nash might lead his teammate Jeff Carter to commit suicide, especially if the return includes Schenn or Couturier– both in Philadelphia as a result of the Richards and Carter trades. Moving one to get a goal scorer like Nash, who has an 8-year, $62 million contract, would essentially be reversing course on the Carter trade, since Nash and Carter are very similar players (that is to say "goal scorers") … with the slight edge probably going to Nash.

Side two: Now that the Flyers have added Grossman and Kubina – B- and B+ defensemen, respectively – adding a player like Nash would probably put them right back in the thick of things… you know, if Bryz and Bob can ever figure out how to stop a puck.

We shall see. We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we do know this– JVR may want to hide under a table, because Homer has that look in his eye.

*Paul doesn't actually have a gun (I don't want to get sued)– just a phone.