Mika Zibanejad went cold during the 2024-2025 NHL season and produced a career-low 59 points. There's been talk about the team moving on from him, considering GM Chris Drury is retooling the lineup. Could Madison Square Garden see him absent in 2025-2026? Here's what he had to say.
Mika Zibanejad didn't play consistent hockey for the Rangers this season. In 80 games with the team, he scored 58 points (18 goals, 40 assists), a career-low in goals for the center who's always been a lethal threat in the Rangers' offense.
The last time Zibanejad scored so few goals was when he arrived in New York during the 2016-2017 season, where he'd only score 14 and post 37 points total.
There have been doubts about his future with the Rangers, considering the decline in production. But Zibanejad is squashing those rumors now:
Zibanejad has a full no-movement clause attached to his hefty $8.5 million contract, which doesn't expire until the 2029-20230 NHL season.
Depending on how you view it, the Rangers are stuck with Zibanejad, an anchor who has pulled the team down to its depths and out of playoff contention. Or this is just a down-year for Zibanejad, which it honestly could be.
Either way, GM Chris Drury will have to consider the future look of this Rangers team, and whether he can coax Zibanejad can drop his NMC should a trade materialize in the future.
For better or worse, Zibanejad is committed.
The question is, are you?
2023-2024 Totals
In 2023-2024, Zibanejad scored 72 points (26 goals, 46 assists) and could find himself back in top form next year.
