Over the past decade, I don’t think I can remember a more important catalyst to so many outcomes for Rangers seasons than Mika Zibanejad. The point per game seasons. The big short-handed goals. The crushing playoff exits. The seemingly unlimited number of wingers who didn’t gel with him (sorry Kakko). He truly is the first domino that makes every other fall. In his 9th season on Broadway, he once again holds the keys to the immediate (and perhaps long-term) future of this team.
Make no mistake about it, Mika Zibanejad’s ability to play the center position in this system is precipitously fading. The internet narrative that Peter Laviolette is galaxy braining moving him to right wing couldn’t be more off. At right wing, he’ll have less defensive responsibilities. Sure, Mika still has a great shot and unsurpassed vision, but the stamina and speed required to play goal line to goal line is another story.
Despite that obvious truth, it seems this coaching staff is unsure of where to put him, as he got bounced around the lineup the last few games heading into the break. I trust that Chris Drury will better assess the situation and sees a path forward. For me, and I have been saying this for the better part of 3+ years, I would much rather spend the mid-tier prospect or 2nd or 3rd round pick on a true two-way 3C than to try to find a top 6 winger, especially given what we have in the pipeline.
If Drury agrees with that assessment, I could see him sniffing around middle six centers like Jake Evans in Montreal, Barrett Hayton in Utah, Yanni Gourde in Seattle, Ryan O’Reilly in Nashville, or Mikael Backlund in Calgary. All of these centers can play on the defensive side of the puck, have some offensive pop, and play on teams that will most likely miss the playoffs. Hayton and Backlund have a year left on their deals. Evans and Gourde are UFAs. Ryan O’Reilly has two years left (but isn’t buyout proof).
Of course, 3C isn’t our only roster hole. The Rangers undoubtedly will need a 1LD to play next to Fox at some point. However, I think that won’t be something that gets addressed until the offseason. While I don’t think Lindgren or K’Andre Miller are 1LDs now or in the immediate future, trying to fix that at the deadline with rentals would be a bad idea for long-term sustainability.
Miller has just been too volatile the past couple of years to jam into that top pairing. His arbitration status also gives me pause as he could demand more money than he is worth this summer. Lindgren for sure isn’t a top pairing defender. However, his trade value as a UFA isn’t going to return much more than a mid-round pick and he’s still capable of having solid games. Trading him at the deadline doesn’t make much sense to me either unless we fall out of the playoff picture or there is a “hockey trade” to be made somehow.
If Mika Zibanejad finds a more regular role as a top 6 winger, this is where he could also be a catalyst to be traded. Getting his contract off the books this summer could free up the cap space to go after a big fish like a Jakob Chychrun (UFA), or a Bowen Byram (RFA), etc. and lock up the top pairing for the foreseeable future.
No matter what happens, Mika Zibanejad seems to be at the center (pun unintended) of all possibilities with this roster moving forward.
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