Interesting thoughts. This from ESPN Insider...

The Carolina Hurricanes pursuit of Rick Nash ended the moment Columbus Blue Jackets General manager Scott Howson uttered the words "Jeff Skinner" during discussions about a potential trade.

So with the price for Nash too steep, what can Canes GM Jim Rutherford do to improve his team on offense? John Grant of thehockeywriters.com explains why Carolina should turn their attention to Anaheim Ducks forward Bobby Ryan and, somewhat surprisingly, Jay Bouwmeester of the Calgary Flames.

"Yes, Bouwmeester is a defenseman, but he is a player the Hurricanes need," Grant writes. "This 28-year-old is more of a shutdown D-man but can chip in offensively and rarely misses a game. For two more years at $6.6 million, Bouwmeester would solidify a great need for the Hurricanes on the blue line, including the toughness lost by Bryan Allen. With apologies to Allen, Bouwmeester is a major upgrade in that department."