Mika Zibanejad Trade Rumours Intensify as Rangers Send Clear Message, per Marco D'Amico
Photo credit: Vincent Z. Mercogliano-Lohud
The New York Rangers are clearly open for business after early season struggles, and now Marco D'Amico has revealed Mika Zibanejad could be heading out next.
The New York Rangers have made it clear they're open for business on the NHL trade market.
It started with defenseman Jacob Trouba and then it was forward Chris Kreider's name that was tossed out as potential trade pieces. Now, the latest is yet another star Center, Mika Zibanejad.
According to Marco D'Amico of RG.com, via today's "Chatter" on the teams, a "confident NHL source" insists the Rangers would be trying to trade Mika Zibanejad, and he has spoken to one western-based team already.
"He's out there for sure. They're not necessarily trying to get rid of him, but they let guys know he could be available at the right price.
They discussed him, but I'm not sure there's a match there (with the aforementioned anonymous team). I think it was more the Rangers continuing to gauge his value on the market."
- Marco D'Amico
They discussed him, but I'm not sure there's a match there (with the aforementioned anonymous team). I think it was more the Rangers continuing to gauge his value on the market."
- Marco D'Amico
The 31-year-old Zibanejad has struggled to this point in the season, recording five goals in 24 games after averaging 30 over his last seven seasons.
The minus-14 rating is his first negative in six years and has him as the favorite target of frustrated fans.
He is third in team points, with 18, scoring five and assisting on 13, with three in his last two games. He had 16 points in 16 games in the playoffs last season.
Of course, Zibanejad won't be cheap, carrying an $8.5 million annual cap hit for the next five years.
As D'Amico reports, Rangers GM Chris Drury may want to make a splash that could change the mindset of the club and help take them out of this recent funk.
At 14-10-1, the Rangers come in fourth in the Metropolitan Division and were reeling from a 5-1 defeat at the hands of rival New Jersey Devils that made five losses in six games, with further games against Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Chicago still on the horizon.
Rumors of other changes, including behind the bench with speculation involving former Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville, only add intrigue.
«Usually, it's the head coach that pays the price - and that could still happen in New York - but right now, it looks like Drury is determined to make an example with the players and with a big name.»
- Marco D'Amico
- Marco D'Amico
The Rangers appear ready to make some big moves in trying to get back into this season through trades or changes within the staffing.
| POLL | ||
5 DECEMBRE | 146 ANSWERS Mika Zibanejad Trade Rumours Intensify as Rangers Send Clear Message, per Marco D'Amico Will Mika Zibanejad be traded by the New York Rangers this season? | ||
| Yes | 75 | 51.4 % |
| No | 71 | 48.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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