Mika Zibanejad's season has become one of those stories that feels a little underrated because of everything else that happened around the Rangers. Between Chris Drury's "Letter 2.0," the trades that followed, and all the questions about where the organization is headed next, it felt like the conversation was constantly shifting. Meanwhile, Zibanejad just kept putting together a pretty productive season.
The Winter Classic hat trick was probably the highlight, but by the time the year was over, he had 34 goals and finished with 78 points. For most players, that would be enough to end any debate about their value to a team. Somehow, it hasn't really worked that way with Zibanejad.
Maybe that's because the Rangers are clearly getting younger. Maybe it's because he's 33 and still has four years left on an $8.5 million cap hit. Whatever the reason, there always seems to be another discussion about whether New York should move him and fully turn the page.
Zibanejad wants to be a part of the future in New York
The problem is that it's hard to find a scenario where that actually makes much sense. For one, the conversation is mostly hypothetical anyway. Zibanejad has a full no-movement clause and has been pretty clear over the years that New York is where he wants to be. That alone makes any trade idea difficult. But even if you set that aside, what exactly are the Rangers gaining here?
Teams going through a transition still need players who can handle difficult minutes. They need players who can produce. And they need players who can help younger guys settle into bigger roles. Zibanejad checks all three boxes.
You could see it late in the season. The roster around him changed, but his role really didn't. He found chemistry with Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault, continued taking on tough matchups, and remained one of the players the coaching staff leaned on most.
The Rangers aren't at the stage where they're tearing everything down and starting from scratch. They're trying to get younger while still remaining competitive, and that's a different thing entirely. Players like Zibanejad help you do that.
Now, if the direction ever shifts into a full rebuild, then sure, that changes the conversation. But even then, it’s not obvious anything changes on Zibanejad’s side, not with his trade protection.
Maybe a few years from now this looks different. The Rangers might be in a completely different spot by then. But right now, trying to move him when he doesn’t want to move just feels like the kind of move that creates more problems than it solves.
