The Jackets would want established forwards in any trade for Rick Nash, GM Scott Howson told TSN on Friday. Speaking on "That's Hockey," Howson would not confirm that Nash would only accept a trade to the Bruins, Flyers, Penguins, Rangers, Red Wings or Sharks, as has been reported. "If we do complete a trade, we're trading out a 30- to 40-goal scorer," Howson told TSN's Gino Reda. "Defense is probably the strongest part of our team as we look at it today, so we're looking to get some NHL forwards back first and foremost." Howson said he has no timetable to make a deal. He said he has talked to "a number of teams."

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson isn't saying much about his quest to trade team captain Rick Nash, according to an ESPN.com report on Thursday. Reached Thursday, Howson said, "We are working very hard" and added that he is not facing a deadline to make a deal.