Hockey

“He’s Out There For Sure”: Rangers Gauging Zibanejad Trade Value

Published: Dec 5, 2024, 12:18 PM
4 min read
Updated: Jul 22, 2025, 7:11 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Mika Zibanejad is reportedly "out there" on the trade market as the Rangers gauge his value amid struggles

Mika Zibanejad is reportedly "out there" on the trade market as the Rangers gauge his value amid struggles (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

When news broke last week that the New York Rangers were open for business on the NHL trade market, the two Rangers that were specified were captain and defenseman Jacob Trouba and veteran forward Chris Kreider.

According to a trusted NHL source, the Rangers are also letting it be known that Kreider’s linemate and star center, Mika Zibanejad, is also available on the NHL trade market.

“He’s out there for sure,” the source told RG recently. “They’re not necessarily trying to get rid of him, but they let guys know he could be available at the right price.”

According to the same source, the Rangers have had trade talks with a Western conference team involving Zibanejad.

“His name was mentioned,” the source said of the 31-year-old veteran pivot with five years left on a $68 million ($8.5 AAV) contract.

“They discussed him, but I’m not sure there’s a match there. I think it was more the Rangers continuing to gauge his value on the market.”

Zibanejad has been the target of a frustrated fan base this season despite being third in points for the Rangers with five goals and 13 assists. He also has a goal and two assists in his last two games. This all comes after Zibanejad had 16 points (3g, 13 a) in 16 playoff games last spring. But as the source pointed out, with the Rangers grossly underachieving right now, fans, media, and, sadly, sometimes, teams need a scapegoat.

“Usually, it’s the head coach that pays the price - and that could still happen in New York - but right now, it looks like [Chris] Drury is determined to make an example with the players and with a big name.”

On Monday night, the Rangers are coming off an embarrassing 5-1 loss to their arch-rivals, the New Jersey Devils. They’re now 1-1-0 on their current five-game homestand with their next game on Friday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and then Sunday against the Seattle Kraken and Monday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

There’s a belief that something is about to give with the Rangers. They’ve been looking into different facets, like moving on from existing veterans like Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba; while also considering a coaching change that could involve Former Blackhawks head coach, Joel Quenneville.

With the team seemingly free-falling of late, there’s simply too much smoke coming out of the big apple.

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Senior News Editor
Marco D’Amico is an accredited hockey reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens, with a strong focus on NHL prospects, the NHL Draft, and player development. His work has appeared on TSN, RDS, CBC, and more, and he’s interviewed top talents like Lane Hutson, Shane Wright, Ivan Demidov, Logan Cooley, and Nathan MacKinnon.
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Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

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