Riley Nash would be an interesting cheap pickup for a team needing some depth down the middle. Don't think he'd be more than a 13 or 14th forward in Colorado, but if Jost carries on his play perhaps it would be enough to grab a depth C rather than a 3C. Avs don't have many picks though so a depth prospect would be better than a 5th.

Savard would be of interest though. 2nd + 3rd seems like a fair price, but in the absence of a 2nd Avs would need to include a prospect instead of a 2nd, perhaps something like Bowers + 3rd, would that work?

I think Jarmo would chase a pick for Nash as we have moved a decent amount of picks the last couple years. Would probably need a little bit of overpay in a prospect, but Nash is a guy that is made for third or fourth line playoff hockey and would benefit a true contender. I'm not sold Jarmo moves him because I think he is playing a big role mentoring the young centers in Columbus.
I haven't followed bowers development, but from the draft I remember him sounding like a guy that Jarmo would bring into the system. Jackets need true centers, so if Jarmo thinks he fits that mold, I have to imagine he would listen.

Nash is the sort of guy who teams circle back on after their other deadline targets fall through. So it would likely be a deal late on deadline day for whatever Jarmo can get. If he wants an asset for him then he'll have to take what's on the table. Or just keep him if he doesn't like it, but then they could lose him for nothing a month later.

I agree with everything you are saying. I think Columbus significantly over values him and with all our young centers they may want that extra month or so to have him around vs trading him for an extremely underwhelming return. I also just realized that I didn't have us retaining salary, which we could definitely do and that should help the return. I will have to update the retention.