The Rangers and Bruins were both some of the worst teams in the NHL this season. Both finishing in the lower rungs of their respective divisions, GM Chris Drury will look to retool this summer, and he could do that by trading Mika Zibanejad.
The New York Rangers will need to find a way to retool the core that hasn't been able to take the team to winning territory.
After a 5th place finish, and a record of 39-36-7 the Rangers need to rebound and could use fresh blood in place of a stale core.
That could involve a trade with Mika Zibanejad to the Boston Bruins.
Zibanejad to Boston
The Rangers need more cap space, and at $8.5 million AAV, if they could clear Zibanejad's cap, that'd be better for the team's future prospects.
But where would he go? First, he'd have to waive his no-movement clause and accept a trade somewhere else. What if Drury sent him to Boston?
Bruins acquire:
Mika Zibanejad
2025 second-round pick
Rangers acquire:
Casey Mittelstadt
Mika Zibanejad
2025 second-round pick
Rangers acquire:
Casey Mittelstadt
Using the Puck GM Tool, we get an idea of what a trade could look like in the future between Boston and New York for Zibanejad.
The Bruins receive Zibanejad, and a 2nd-round pick due to the fact that the Rangers would be moving his contract with no retainage.
While this is more or less a cap dump, the Bruins would have a 1st-line center in Zibanejad who could play alongside David Pastrnak.
He would add needed depth down the center, and the $68 million forward could benefit from a change of scenery. Zibanejad has four years left on his $8.5 million deal, and could give the Rangers a chance at bringing in someone like Casey Mittelstadt, who could lineup at 3C, with only two years left on his $17.25 million deal.
Mittelstadt would offer some great depth scoring, as he posted 40 points (15 goals, 25 assists) in 81 games this year.
