Rangers Could Push Mika Zibanejad to Make Huge Decision This Summer
The New York Rangers are expected to face another turbulent offseason, with growing speculation that general manager Chris Drury could ask veteran center Mika Zibanejad to waive his no-movement clause. According to New York Post columnist Larry Brooks, this potential move echoes last summer's mishandling of Jacob Trouba’s situation, which lingered into the season and reportedly damaged the locker room dynamic. "You can’t have a senior player on the team who knows he’s no longer wanted," Brooks wrote, warning that allowing such a situation to carry into the fall again could be toxic.5 years ago today: Mika Zibanejad went off on the Capitals scoring 5 Goals in a game including the overtime game winner 🔥🗽 pic.twitter.com/EHxkfWtxAS— Concrete City Sports (@concretecityccs) March 5, 2025
Zibanejad, 31, has five years left on his contract with an $8.5 million cap hit and full no-move protection, making him a complicated piece to move. Though he reportedly declined to waive his clause as part of a rumored deal involving J.T. Miller, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that Zibanejad might reconsider for the right team, likely a contender. With his production declining since his 91-point season in 2022-23, Drury may see this summer as the window to explore a change while Zibanejad still holds trade value, especially if the Rangers fall short of expectations.…Mika? … Mika Zibanejad? pic.twitter.com/qkxsNO5gV3— Blueshirt Banter (@BlueshirtBanter) March 16, 2025
Other veteran forwards like Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin could also be trade options, but Zibanejad’s situation stands out due to the weight of his contract and leadership role. If Drury makes the request, it will need to happen swiftly once the season ends to avoid the uncertainty that plagued Trouba’s final months in New York.Photo Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images...
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