Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad trade plans updated after Olympics originally appeared on The Sporting News Click here to add Sports News as your go-to source.
The New York Rangers already dominated NHL trade headlines before the league’s roster freeze when they sent Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings.
advertise
They certainly aren’t expected to finish, with Mika Zibanejad likely to be next.
Matt Larkin of the Daily Faceoff writes that Zibanejad’s stock price benefited from his performance at the Swedish Olympics.
The 32-year-old center forward has scored three goals for Sweden in five games for Milan and he looked sharp throughout.
If the Rangers do want to trade him, that will only help.
“He can still be an above-average scoring line center in the NHL, and the Winter Olympics bring an additional positive to a season in which his value soars,” Larkin wrote.
More: Jack Hughes, not a miracle, just magic
advertise
As Larkin also pointed out, the problem with Zibanejad is his contract.
“While the Broadway Blueshirts have traded Artemi Panarin and Carson Soucy to reshape the roster, the likelihood of Zibanejad being moved is slim as he has four years left on his contract, a whopping $8.5 million salary cap hit, and all that time remaining makes it a tricky proposition for the Rangers to retain salary,” Larkin wrote.
More: Team USA honors Johnny Gaudreau in special way after winning gold medal
It will ultimately be a balancing act for a team that may want Zibanejad. Does money equal value?
Zibanejad is having his best scoring pace in three years with the Rangers, despite being a struggling team.
advertise
It still seems like he could be a key contributor to a winning team if the acquirer of the trade can handle the cost.
