The New York Rangers may look to shake up their core this offseason, with reports suggesting Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and Chris Kreider could be available via trade.
Given New York’s limited salary cap space, it seems likely that at least one or two of these veteran players will be moved. In a proposed scenario by The Athletic’s Arthur Staple, Zibanejad is traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in a salary dump.
Staple’s hypothetical trade sees the Rangers sending Zibanejad—while retaining 20% of his salary—along with a second-round draft pick to Chicago in exchange for future considerations.
Moving Zibanejad would be difficult, as it involves not only keeping part of his salary on the books but also parting with a valuable draft pick. The veteran forward still has five years remaining on his eight-year, $68 million contract.
Chicago could be a logical fit, though. With plenty of cap space and a desire to surround Connor Bedard with experienced talent, Zibanejad could fill a top-line role and bring a scoring boost.
For the Rangers, such a move would be more about restructuring the team and clearing cap space following a frustrating season that saw them miss the playoffs.
“If Zibanejad agrees to waive his no-move clause, you take what you can get,” Staple wrote. “In my scenario, that means including a solid pick to convince the Blackhawks to take him, while retaining $1.75 million per year. If you’re trying to move on from him, that’s a manageable deal.”
New York currently has just over $8.4 million in cap space heading into the offseason.
Zibanejad Wants to Stay in New York
Despite the rumors, Zibanejad holds a full no-movement clause and has expressed his desire to remain with the Rangers.
“I know what my contract says,” he told reporters. “Both sides agreed to it, and I feel I’ve earned it. I’m not planning on leaving. I’ve put a lot into this team.”
That means the Rangers can’t trade him unless he agrees to waive the clause, making him likely to be in the lineup when next season begins—unless circumstances change.
Still, some fans hope he might consider a move if the right opportunity presents itself.
New Coach Aims to Push the Team Forward
Following their underwhelming season, the Rangers parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette and hired Mike Sullivan, a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
At his introductory press conference, Sullivan emphasized accountability and teamwork.
“I want to bring what I’ve learned to New York and help this group reach its full potential,” Sullivan said. “We’re going to push these guys daily to maximize what we have. There’s a lot of talent in that room, but talent alone doesn’t win. Teams win championships. That’s the challenge ahead of us.”
Sullivan brings a wealth of experience to the bench with a career coaching record of 479-311-15-112 in the NHL.
