Kent Hughes is hoping to upgrade his top-six forwards by adding a second-line center this offseason, but with far more teams looking to buy than sell, that goal may be difficult to achieve. However, Arthur Staple of The Athletic suggests a split between the New York Rangers and Swedish center Mika Zibanejad could be on the horizon.
Although the 6-foot-2, 203-pound Zibanejad has primarily played on the third line this season behind Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, he still has the skillset to serve as a second-line center—especially when flanked by talented wingers.
Over the past four seasons, the 32-year-old has been remarkably durable, missing only a handful of games while posting 81, 91, 72, and 62 points. His production dipped this past season, but so did that of many Rangers players, as the team endured a disappointing campaign and missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Zibanejad was acquired by then-GM Jeff Gorton in a 2016 trade with Ottawa that sent Derrick Brassard and a 2018 seventh-round pick to the Senators in exchange for Zibanejad and a 2018 second-rounder.
Now entering the fourth season of an eight-year contract carrying an $8.5 million cap hit, Zibanejad is signed through 2029-30. He also holds a full no-move clause, meaning any potential deal requires his approval.
While he may be open to leaving New York, he won’t agree to just any destination. That said, he began his career in Ottawa and is already familiar with the city’s cold winters and steep tax rates.
With the salary cap projected to rise in coming years, the Canadiens could afford his contract, though the back end of the deal may not offer the best value. Still, head coach Martin St. Louis has a track record of reviving veteran players—Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher both enjoyed resurgent seasons under his leadership.
Beyond his offensive potential, Zibanejad is a key contributor on both special teams for the Rangers, playing on their top power play and penalty kill units. His versatility could help replace outgoing forwards like Joel Armia and Christian Dvorak, especially since both were regulars on the Habs’ penalty kill. Replacing them with untested rookies or relying more heavily on Nick Suzuki—who thrived in a more offense-focused role—might not be ideal.
Of course, targeting an aging veteran like Zibanejad may not be Hughes’ top priority. Ideally, he would land a younger option such as Mason McTavish, but in today’s tight market, that may not be a realistic outcome.
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