Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence has come at a good time for the Rangers. Whether he’s been at 3C or 1RW, he’s been looking far more engaged and his mistakes are becoming fewer and further between. In the 19 games since the new year, he’s put up 5-11-16, including 2-6-8 in the last 5 games. That’s what you expect from your stars, and Zibanejad is showing he still has something left. But for his Rangers future, is it too little too late?
Yesterday, Suit called out Zibanejad as the catalyst for the Rangers’ next steps. There are only a few options, and Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence, should it continue after the Four Nations Face Off, will be at the center of it all. Suit mainly focuses on Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence and a potential spot as the 1RW, a position of need for the Rangers. But there are other options.
Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence impacts trade value
But let’s be negative first, before closing out with the positive. Any potential trade the Rangers may make to get out from his contract will be dependent on Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence, specifically continuing for the rest of the season. It’s critical that the first half of the season look like a blip, which should entice teams if and when he becomes available via trade.
If, and it’s a big if, Zibanejad has woken up and continues to play this way, then the Rangers may actually get something tangible in a return. But that is a big if, as it’s been clear Zibanejad is more of a passenger at this stage of his career.
Zibanejad already has a full no-movement clause. His wife travels to Sweden regularly for work, and Zibanejad is unlikely to accept a trade that doesn’t have a non-stop flight to Stockholm. That essentially limits potential suitors to a handful of teams. If Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence is short lived, and the Four Nations Face Off winds up disrupting his flow, then the Rangers may be backed into a corner.
Yes, Zibanejad is the catalyst for the Rangers future, but it’s not all sunshine and butterflies.
Zibanejad can still be a solid piece
Where I disagree with Suit is where Zibanejad’s future position may be. I think Zibanejad can still be an effective scoring center, but his line would need to be sheltered at 5v5 with offensive zone starts against depth. Before the JT Miller trade, that role was with the Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere line. Zibanejad would also need play driving forecheckers like Will Cuylle at his side.
This is where things get a bit muddy. Assuming the Kreider-Zibanejad-Cuylle line is reunited, they can certainly play sheltered third line minutes, leaving the JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck lines to deal with tougher competition. It has potential, but do you really want your 3C making $8.5 million and your 3LW making $6.5 million? Not exactly the best use of cap space. There’s also no guarantee this strategy even works, as the Rangers would be forced to put Jimmy Vesey or a rookie like Brennan Othmann on the top line.
Mika Zibanejad’s resurgence has made this conversation relevant again, as he’s had success both at center and at wing. This, to me, shows Zibanejad can still be a center. Miller-Trocheck-Zibanejad down the middle is solid center depth, and it leaves a wing spot open for someone like Brennan Othmann or, when healthy, Brett Berard.
There are options with Zibanejad still on the Rangers, even if the cap hit is less than appealing. Zibanejad’s resurgence made these options possible.
But is it too little too late?
When the Zibanejad contract was signed, it was assumed he would be mostly fine until the back third of the contract. Few, if any, expected him to fall off a cliff in the third year of an eight year contract. After all, Zibanejad is only 31 years old (32 in April), doesn’t have a big injury history, and doesn’t play a style that ages poorly. It just seemed like everything fell apart at the same time.
No matter what, the Rangers need to get out from that contract, especially with JT Miller in tow. In fact, there’s a strong argument that the Rangers wouldn’t have even traded for Miller had Zibanejad played as expected to start the season. With Miller back on Broadway, Zibanejad’s future in New York is likely coming to an end.
The writing is on the wall for Zibanejad. Possibly Artemi Panarin and Chris Kreider too. The Rangers are going to go through an overhaul between now and the beginning of next season. This is Chris Drury’s team, for better or for worse, and there’s nothing Zibanejad’s resurgence can do to stop it. It may indeed be too little too late for Zibanejad, and the domino effect it will cause.
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