Rick Nash traded to New York Rangers

(SB Nation) -- Rick Nash has finally been traded. The New York Rangers have acquired the big, star center from the Columbus Blue Jackets, according to both TSN and the Columbus Dispatch. Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov highly-touted defensive prospect Tim Erixon and a first-round pick are heading back to Columbus.

Nash immediately makes the Rangers more dangerous -- perhaps the favorite to again win the Eastern Conference. Columbus general manager Scott Howson has repeatedly made it clear that any team wishing to acquire Nash will have to pay a large price, and the chief reason a deal didn't get done back at the trade deadline in late February was because multiple teams balked at Howson's hefty asking price. The return he's getting in this deal is underwhelming compared to that reported original asking price.

Nash will earn $7.8 million against the salary cap through the 2017-18 season. He had to waive his no-trade clause to move to the Rangers.

Dubinsky will earn $4.2 million against the cap through 2014-15 while Erixon is entering the second year of his three-year entry level contract. He earns $1.75 million against the cap through 2013-14. Erixon has just 18 NHL games under his belt. He played 52 games with the AHL's Connecticut Whale in 2011-12. Anisimov is due $1.875 million for one more season before becoming a restricted free agent next summer.