ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mika Zibanejad is the only Ranger who has been with the organization every day between the first letter in February 2018 and the second that was released last week.
Now at a very different stage of his career than he was then, Zibanejad is in a unique position as Blueshirts president and general manager Chris Drury sets out to retool the roster. When he went through this the first time around, Zibanejad was 24 and in his second season in New York.
He didn’t recall feeling especially worried he was going to be moved, he said, but he also didn’t know for sure.
Now, equipped with a no-move clause until it is modified in the final season of his deal in 2029-30, Zibanejad has a say in his fate.
Asked how committed he is to what’s ahead, as well as his feeling on the possibility of being presented with the right trade destination, Zibanejad made his intentions known while also leaving it somewhat open-ended.
“I haven’t thought about any of that, honestly, in that sense,” Zibanejad said after the Rangers held practice at Honda Center on Sunday. “Again, it’s different because it’s not what’s being communicated. We talked about a retool and not a rebuild. I’m committed to being here. The situation is what it is right now, and you evaluate every time. I don’t think anyone thought about doing this four months ago, five months ago. Can’t say for certainty what’s going to happen in the future at all times. For now, I don’t have anything else on my mind [other] than to be here right now and try to help this team going forward somehow.
“When the turnaround is going to be and when we’re going to be where we want to be, I don’t know. Again, if I can help somehow. You reevaluate the situation as you go.
Zibanejad confirmed he has still yet to be approached about waiving his NMC since the Rangers went off the rails early last season.
Given the circumstances — not only his contract structure, but also the bounce-back season he is enjoying — Zibanejad is one of the more likely players to survive the impending restructuring.
Marquee players like goalie Igor Shesterkin, No. 1 defenseman Adam Fox, captain J.T. Miller and Zibanejad and presumably free agent signing Vladislav Gavrikov appear to be cornerstones of the core going forward. But while certain players have more protection than others, the Rangers aren’t ruling out any courses of action, per a league source.
All four of the aforementioned players, however, expressed a desire to be part of the solution going forward.
Despite the Rangers’ lack of success, Zibanejad has returned to form after enduring the toughest season of his career in 2024-25. He scored two hat tricks in the span of 16 days and tied Bill Cook for the most hat tricks in franchise history with nine.
No. 93 also became the club’s all-time leading power-play scorer during the win in Philly.
With nine goals in the last seven games, Zibanejad will ride an eight-game point streak (nine goals, eight assists) into Monday’s matchup with the Ducks. His 21 goals in 48 games also lead the Rangers.
“I don’t know if we said retool the last time. It was a little bit different,” Zibanejad said of the difference between the two letters from his vantage point. “Obviously, eight years ago. Personally, eight years older and in a bit of a different situation. It obviously sucks, sucks that it’s come to this. But we can’t do anything about it now. Try to have some fun, find a way to find that energy, try to play and try to win games.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
