The Rangers have started preliminary discussions on an extension with center Mika Zibanejad, reports Larry Brooks of the New York Post. 2020-21 was a down season for the 28-year-old as he was slowed early on by a bout with COVID-19 although he managed to still post 24 goals and 26 assists in 50 games. Brooks notes that the expectation is that Zibanejad’s camp will be seeking a new deal in the $10MM per year range, an AAV that only six centers around the league have hit. Zibanejad has one more year left on his existing contract with a $5.35MM cap hit and will need to have a year similar to 2019-20 when he had 41 goals and 34 assists in 57 games if he wants a shot at becoming the seventh center to have a double-digit AAV.
More from the Metropolitan:
- Hurricanes goaltender Petr Mrazek is expected to test the free agent market on Wednesday over signing a new deal with Carolina before then, relays Pierre LeBrun in his latest column for The Athletic (subscription link). He entered 2020-21 as their expected starter but injuries limited him to just a dozen starts. With Alex Nedeljkovic being moved to Detroit, the Hurricanes now have three pending UFAs between the pipes although GM Don Waddell expressed optimism that they can get one of them signed. At this point, it doesn’t seem as if Mrazek will be the one to put pen to paper on a new deal.
- Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov is expected to sign a short-term bridge contract, GM Brian MacLellan told Samantha Pell of the Washington Post. The 24-year-old has shown some promising flashes but was inconsistent this past season, notching just a .902 SV% in 19 appearances. Now locked in as their starter going forward, a strong couple of years on a short-term agreement could have Samsonov well-positioned for a much bigger contract in his next time through restricted free agency when he’ll have salary arbitration rights.
- Also from Pell’s column, Capitals defenseman John Carlson has undergone minor knee surgery but is expected to be fully recovered for the start of training camp. The veteran played through the issue in the playoffs but still logged nearly 26 minutes a game in their opening-round loss to Boston.
The writers here must hate Mika. Several articles over the last few months have mentioned the Rangers need to upgrade the center position even though MZ has been pretty tremendous the past few years. Now, somehow averaging a point per game is a ‘down year.’
Agree. The Preds would be so lucky to actually have a point per game center. :/
And he started off the year with COVID so he got off to a really slow start.
Does Mika defend okay? I don’t watch NYR much. How’s his 200 foot game?
They do need to upgrade at center. On Strome though not Zibanijad. Zibanijad has definitely established himself but if he wants $10m a season he should go to Buffalo or the KHL.
Sneaky fast, does some hitting, good takeaway ability. Not quite Eichel but fun to watch.
Someone explain to me why mika z cannot be the top line center, and forget overpaying for eichel and target someone else for a number 2 center. Kuznetsov?
I’d rather have Jack’s contract than Mika’s impending deal.
Matter of fact,I’d move out Mika,a non Russian goalie,and a 1st for Jack.
Even with the neck issue? Hard pass. And it defeats the purpose of strengthening Center. Zibs is solid.
Until the tin man actually seems to give a ….
Give me Mika all day.
I seem to be less of a fan of Eichel than most, but I don’t think it makes sense for NYR or LA to get him. MIN maybe should get him depending on price.
The only team I keep coming back to where even I say, “yeah they should trade for Eichel” is CGY.
@Brian – it’s 56 games, not 50. 50 was his point total.
10M per isn’t out of range, but I’d try to get him at 8-9M per and give him 6-7 years. He’s a top line center and the Strome/second line center issue is a bit over blown, though I wouldn’t mind seeing an upgrade in the middle of the second line. I think the Rangers sit back, let Strome play out the year and see how Eichel comes back if he isn’t dealt.
That’s too long of a commitment. Can’t pay him that much up to the age 37! Way too long. I would offer 5 years max and give him 8 mill max. I don’t think over paying makes sense. Some stars like Stamkos took less money to stay with there team. Zibanajed was never Stamkos in his prime and he took 9 mill. Can’t over pay. If they trade for Eichel they will be getting a 24yo superstar if healthy. Zibanajad is 29yo and why would the Rangers pay him through his down years that type of money?
He is 28, not 29.
Would pay him until 34, 35 if it were 7 years. He’s just be exiting his prime years. Stamkos took less money to stay with a Cup winning team. I’m sure the Rangers would have some level of discount if that were the case for them.
As for Eichel, his injury is too risky. He’s have been dealt already if he didn’t hurt his neck. As an upgrade over Zibs, isn’t not that much of a gap to unload the house. I’d much rather upgrade the second line C (Strome) and stay static from there. There’s not much the Rangers need to do from there other than give the kids time to gel. They’ll get there.
There’s 1 year left on his deal so he’ll be 29 when his current deal expires and this hypothetical extension would begin
Here’s a quick take on Mika. He doesn’t win big face offs and not stellar on Defebse. He’s streaky, 29yo with history of concussions. Does t go in those dirty areas. He’s a star but is he a number one through the early 30s into mid 30s? No way. He’s a great two and Eichel would fill that top spot.
He just turned 28 three months ago and is actually known as a two way player, though his offense stands out. Eichel doesn’t go I to dirty areas either and Eichel is more injury prone than Zibs, not to mention the questionable severity of his neck.
Don’t get me wrong, Eichel would be sweet to have, but I wouldn’t forfeit some of the kids in a deal to acquire him. Cap wise it would be a major impact and something will have to give.
Also, no team would even consider trading a big name like eichel to the rangers without one of the ‘kids’ coming back the other way.
Of course, but due to the severity of his injury and contract that is tagged to that injury, he’ll need to prove he’s ok and the neck is stable. For sure the aggressive portion of his game may pull back, which takes away from his game.
Drury has connections in buffalo, but hes not getting eichel for less than 2 first rounders, 2 established players and or 2 “cant miss” prospects, if they exist! Thats just stupidity.
Go somewhere else for an upgrade on strome.
So send away any type of team you might be building to bring in an injured disgruntled star! Where have i heard this before. Let Buffalo hold
Someone else up if they can do it!
And as far as mika not playing both ends, have you watched any games at all? HE CONSISTENTLY MAKES DEFENSIVE PLAYS !
You are so wrong on that point. And inhave seen him hand out some hits, so stop that nonsense.
Give the guy his due!!