New Details Emerge on When Mika Zibanejad Could Leave the Rangers
Photo credit: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
It appears after this season, Mika Zibanejad could be leaving the New York Rangers after a poor performance in the playoffs following the 2023-2024 season.
Mika Zibanejad's lineup along with Chris Kreider and Reilly Smith, hasn't been particularly strong. A veteran of the Rangers team criticized Zibanejad for his lack of work ethic on the ice.
Since the 2022-2023 season, he has not been the same player who scored 90 points or more and has failed to find his game. His play has been frustrating, and he has come to understand how it feels to have fewer minutes and less responsibility.
«You can feel it on the bench,» he said (via nypost) after a morning skate before a game against the Capitals. "I was averaging 20-plus minutes a few years ago, and I felt really good with that because you can find a better rhythm."
«I don't think anyone wants to play less, honestly.
«We haven't had one of those games where everything goes in,» he said.
«I don't think anyone wants to play less, honestly.
«We haven't had one of those games where everything goes in,» he said.
With a $8.5 million AAV cap hit, Zibanejad is presently in the third year of an eight-year contract. The idea of acquiring one of the Rangers' top players would undoubtedly make many teams happy. However, Zibanejad's eight-year contract has a No-trade clause that makes moving him challenging.
According to The Athletic:
The details: Zibanejad is in the third year of an eight-year deal that carries an $8.5 million hit. He'll be 37 when it expires.
The case that it's a bad contract: It would be largely similar to the one we just laid out for Scheifele, given how similar the contracts are. Zibanejad also has a full no-move clause until the final year of his deal, whereas Scheifele has only a partial no-trade list after 2027. And Scheifele's deal has fewer bonuses, so it's easier to buy out.
The case that it's a bad contract: It would be largely similar to the one we just laid out for Scheifele, given how similar the contracts are. Zibanejad also has a full no-move clause until the final year of his deal, whereas Scheifele has only a partial no-trade list after 2027. And Scheifele's deal has fewer bonuses, so it's easier to buy out.
Sean McIndoe, however, asked on X "who you'd prefer to have on your team" in the event of a trade. It provided an intriguing background because the question was, "Which would you take, Mika or Mark Scheifele?"
The vote was overwhelmingly in Mika's favor.
Some NHL fans might be in favor of this "untradeable" deal if general manager Chris Drury could do some magic in the future, such as adding a third team.
Mika's deal is currently a little challenging, though, given the term and AAV involved.
| POLL | ||
7 NOVEMBRE | 62 ANSWERS New Details Emerge on When Mika Zibanejad Could Leave the Rangers Do you think Mika Zibanejad will leave the New York Rangers at the end of this season? | ||
| Yes | 43 | 69.4 % |
| No | 19 | 30.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
Latest 10 stories
